Lewis Stevenson tells Hibs chiefs they've made a big mistake with Paul Hanlon

Lewis Stevenson has told Hibs they've scored a massive own goal by letting Paul Hanlon depart.

Club legends Stevenson and Hanlon played their final games at Easter Road as the managerless Hibees stormed to a 3-0 win over Motherwell. One-club man Stevenson, 36, insists he has no complaints about his own exit but claims the Gordon family have blundered by not renewing 34-year-old Hanlon's contract. And Stevenson reckons his close pal will have a queue of Premiership clubs lining up to sign him.

He said: "I've no complaints and I totally understand the club's position - I'm 36 now and they need to move on at some point. I can probably say this now - with Paul it's a big mistake. He's shown the last few games how good he can be.

"A left centre-half is very hard to come by, and he's still playing as well as he's ever done. Anyone watching that game, any potential suitors, he's going to be getting a few offers next season."

Asked if Hanlon could play on in the top-flight, Stevenson added: "Yes, 100 per cent. Outside the Old Firm - and obviously he's not going to go to Hearts - there'll be plenty teams looking at him.

"He's maybe playing with nothing to lose. But even the Aberdeen game last weekend, we got beat 4-0 and I still think he was the best player on the pitch. Maybe I'm biased - he's my old pal and I've played a lot of games with him!

"But he's still got a lot to offer, and I'm sure somebody's going to get a good left centre-half, which is hard to come by. A few people have asked if it's not weird, us leaving at the same time.

"But Paul has been here my whole Hibs career. In 90 per cent of my games here, he's been beside me. I owe a lot to him. And he would probably say the same about me."