Martin quits Easter Road

FRENCH ace Lilian Martin has quit Hibs after only one match in a green and white jersey, the Evening News can reveal today.

The 30-year-old is the third high-profile departure from Easter Road in the past three weeks, joining Eduardo Hurtado and David Zitelli in heading for the exit door.

But while Hurtado, who has signed for Barcelona of Gayaquil in a bid to claim a late place in the Ecuadorian World Cup squad, and 33-year-old Zitelli were out-of-contract at the end of this season, Martin still had two years remaining.

However, the departure of compatriot Franck Sauzee, sacked as Hibs boss less than a fortnight after Martin signed, has apparently had a major bearing in the former Marseille and Monaco star’s decision to cut short his stay in Edinburgh.

Martin, who had fallen out of favour at Marseille - he had spent part of last season on loan to Derby County - played in what turned out to be Sauzee’s last match in charge of Hibs, the 1-1 draw at home to Dunfermline on February 16.

A question mark remained, though, over his match fitness and he failed to force his way - as did Hurtado and Zitelli - into new boss Bobby Williamson’s plans.

Martin’s deal with Hibs had, according to managing director Rod Petrie a "significant element" based on first-team appearances and it is clear the player felt he wouldn’t feature sufficiently to pick up the sort of money he expected from the contract. Confirming the right-back’s departure, Petrie today said: "Martin signed a deal until the end of this season and for another two, but there was a change of management fairly quickly thereafter.

"He had a conversation with the incoming manager and what emerged from that was a desire on his part to return to France.

"There is no doubt Franck Sauzee was instrumental in bringing him to the club, but it was clear from our discussions that Martin preferred to terminate his contract and return to France.

"Once he expressed a desire to go, for whatever reason, it seemed in the best interests of everyone we cut a deal to make it happen. We then sat down with him and his advisors and did so." While the details of the deal agreed between Petrie and Martin will remain private, it appears certain that it won’t have cost Hibs too much.

The initial contract which involved a "pay as you play" clause can be construed as an indication of the fact that although Martin arrived with a big reputation the Edinburgh club had protected themselves against signing a player content simply to pick up a wage for a couple of years.

And Petrie defended the signing of Martin so close to Sauzee’s departure, saying: "We signed him at a time when other clubs weren’t bringing in new players. It shows we were giving our management team our full backing."

Petrie also disclosed that Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Lyndon Andrews has also terminated his contract early.

Andrews’ two-year deal was due to end this summer but he has only featured twice as a substitute this season and having fallen out of international reckoning he’ll fail to fulfil work permit requirements of having played in 75 per cent of the Soca Warriors’ matches.

The player was aware that he’d have problems in receiving permission to continue playing in Britain next season and Hibs have agreed to a request from his agent for "flexibility" to allow him to speak to clubs in Europe.

It is understood Andrews is now hoping for a move to Belgium or Portugal where he wouldn’t need a work permit to play.