New Hibs striker Grant Holt admits he is relishing the challenging of trying to win the league title after claiming that the Leith side do not belong in the Championship.
The much-travelled 35-year-old became Neil Lennon’s first signing on Wednesday after putting pen to paper on a 12-month contract.
Holt adds a wealth of experience to a relatively young Hibs squad having played in the English top-flight for Norwich City in a career that also includes spells at Sheffield Wednesday, Nottingham Forest, Wigan and latterly Rochdale.
The Carlisle-born player has been impressed by the infrastructure at Hibs during his first few days in Edinburgh and insists getting back to the top-flight at the third attempt is imperative.
Holt said: “I know where this club should be and it’s certainly not in this division.
“When you come here and get the feel of it, when you see the training ground and you go out to the stadium, you realise how big it is.
“I wanted the challenge, I wanted the challenge of getting this club back to where it should be. They should be in the top flight, they should be in the Premiership.
“I’m coming here with the understanding that we want to win the league. I think everyone sees Hibs in this division as a big scalp and we’ll have to get our heads around that quickly.
“But lets make no bones about it, we’re here to win the league and get out of it.
“If we can have a good run in the Europa League and the cup, then fantastic. If we don’t, our main priority is to get out of this division by winning the league.”
Holt admits he resisted the temptation to sound out Fraser Fyvie about Hibs because he feared his former Wigan team-mate would not be able to keep a secret.
He did, however, speak to one-time Norwich City colleague and former Hibs defender Michael Nelson.
Speaking to Hibs TV, Holt added: “You can’t ask Fraser, he’s got a big mouth. Everyone would have known what I was doing by the time I got up. I spoke to Fraser when he got his move up here and he was absolutely delighted to be here.
“I knew enough people, I spoke to Michael Nelson about the club last week and he told me how good a club it was.
“I know the gaffer well and when I spoke to him last week he told me what he expects and what he wants to do with the football club.
“I’ve spoken to him and kept in touch with him over the years. I know him well, I know what he expects, which is the main thing, and what he told me is exactly what I want to give.”
Hibs, meanwhile, have confirmed that Andy Holden has officially departed the club to link up with Alan Stubbs at Rotherham. Holden was part of the coaching staff that worked under head coach Stubbs at Easter Road.
