# 1997–98 Hibernian F.C. season

Season 1997–98 was an unqualified disaster for Hibs, as the club was relegated to the First Division by finishing bottom of the Premier Division. There was also disappointment in the cup competitions, as the club were beaten by First Division club Raith Rovers in the Scottish Cup, and Dundee United in the League Cup. Manager Jim Duffy was sacked and replaced by Alex McLeish midway through the season.

## League season

Hibs got off to a good start to the season, winning 2–1 against Celtic on the opening day, with Chic Charnley scoring a memorable winning goal. The season "rapidly turned into a nightmare", however. With the club four points adrift at the bottom of the league, manager Jim Duffy was sacked after a 6–2 defeat by Motherwell. Alex McLeish was hired as Duffy's replacement, but he was unable to save the club from relegation to the First Division.

### Final table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 6 | Aberdeen | 36 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 39 | 53 | −14 | 39 | |
| 7 | Dundee United | 36 | 8 | 13 | 15 | 43 | 51 | −8 | 37 | |
| 8 | Dunfermline Athletic | 36 | 8 | 13 | 15 | 43 | 68 | −25 | 37 | |
| 9 | Motherwell | 36 | 9 | 7 | 20 | 46 | 64 | −18 | 34 | |
| 10 | Hibernian (R) | 36 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 38 | 59 | −21 | 30 | Relegation to the First Division |

## Player stats

During the 1997–98 season, Hibs used 32 different players in competitive games. The table below shows the number of appearances and goals scored by each player.
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Premier Division | Premier Division | Scottish Cup | Scottish Cup | League Cup | League Cup |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| | GK | ISL | Olafur Gottskalksson | 17 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | GK | SCO | Bryan Gunn | 12 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | GK | SCO | Chris Reid | 10 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | DF | BEN | Jean-Marc Adjovi-Bocco | 32 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| | DF | SCO | Shaun Dennis | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | SCO | Darren Dods | 32 | 1 | 29 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| | DF | SCO | David Elliot | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | SCO | John Hughes | 27 | 1 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| | DF | SCO | Stuart McCaffrey | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | SCO | Jamie McQuilken | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | SCO | Willie Miller | 34 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| | DF | SCO | Michael Renwick | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | SCO | Brian Welsh | 17 | 1 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | SCO | Scott Bannerman | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | SCO | Grant Brebner | 9 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | SCO | Chic Charnley | 23 | 4 | 20 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| | MF | SCO | Graeme Donald | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | SCO | Andy Dow | 35 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| | MF | SCO | Brian Grant | 7 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| | MF | SCO | Kevin Harper | 29 | 1 | 27 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | MF | SCO | Chris Jackson | 16 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | ISL | Bjarni Larusson | 7 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | SCO | Pat McGinlay | 36 | 6 | 33 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| | MF | SCO | Greg Miller | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | MF | SCO | Eric Paton | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | MF | TRI | Tony Rougier | 31 | 3 | 30 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | FW | SCO | Stephen Crawford | 38 | 9 | 35 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| | FW | SCO | Barry Lavety | 29 | 9 | 26 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| | FW | SCO | Kenny Miller | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | FW | EIR | Lee Power | 6 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | FW | SCO | Paul Tosh | 16 | 1 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | FW | SCO | Andy Walker | 9 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |