Kevin Nisbet: I took lower wage to seal Hibernian move

Kevin Nisbet has revealed he took a lower wage than previously offered in order to make sure he completed a dream move to Hibs.

The striker made the switch from Dunfermline last week as Jack Ross added to his squad for the new season.

Nesbit, a prolific goalscorer at Raith Rovers and then the Pars, was a signing target for Hibs in the January window, though the deal wasn’t completed.

The coronavirus pandemic, football shutdown and financial impact on football meant when Hibs came calling again the personal terms were reduced but Nesbit said he was happy to accept different circumstances when everyone was taking steps to adjust.

“I took a lower wage than I would have got in January,” he said. “I think it’s only right me doing that with the other boys on deferred wages.

“It wouldn’t be right for me to come in and be on bigger wages.”

And the 23-year-old admitted the pandemic had him concerned that he would miss out on a move to Easter Road altogether.

“I was worried and thought ‘this can’t be happening’ but I’m grateful to Hibs for getting it over the line, and on a long-term deal so I can progress,” he said.

The forward shrugged off a late bid from Hearts to try and sign him and said he had English teams courting him to no avail. He said he had “tunnel vision” since the January bid and had no interest in any other offers.

Hibs are among many clubs looking at cost-cutting measures to deal with the effects of the pandemic but Nisbet said he wasn’t feeling any added pressure that a transfer fee had been paid.

“I kind of thrive under pressure if I’m honest. The more pressure on, the better I perform and that’s been the case over the last few seasons. It’s about proving people wrong for me this year.

“I’ve got people still doubting me and saying I can’t do it in the Premiership and won’t be able to make the step up for a few years. I’m looking forward to proving them wrong.”

Nisbet had a taste of top flight football early in his career with Partick Thistle but says he returns to the Premiership a different player after sorting out his approach to the game.

“When I was at Thistle I didn’t play enough first team games and a few loans didn’t work out,” he said. “When I got released the penny dropped for me.

“My attitude wasn’t right on and off the park and I thought I needed to drop down a few levels, play games and score goals.

“This is the next step.”