Dwight Gayle tells Hibs 'I'll see you next season' but only as a fan as even Europe can't tempt him to play on
The 35-year-old has helped the club earn the chance of group stage football but won't be staying around to experience it
Dwight Gayle insists he will be back at Hibs next season – but only as a fan.
The vastly experienced striker has confirmed he has no plans to perform a U-turn on his intention to hang up the boots – even though Hibs face the prospect of European group stage football next season.
A latecomer to the pro game, Gayle began career in 2011 at Dagenham and Redbridge and ended up playing in the Premier League with Newcastle, who signed him for £10million, and Crystal Palace.
The 35-year-old only joined Hibs last summer but the club has left its mark on him in his swansong campaign after he helped David Gray 's side clinch third spot in the Premiership.
An emotional Gayle will take to the pitch for a final time in today's visit of Rangers and the 35-year-old admits he will return to Edinburgh to take in their Euro adventure next term.
Gayle, who plans to work as a football agent going forward, said: 'Will Europe make me consider playing on? No but I'm going to come to the games hopefully.
'I've spoken to a few people about coming with my little man and hopefully bringing him to some of the games abroad, which I'm really excited about. But I'm still fixated on retiring and getting back to my family.
'It was always where I was. The most important thing for me is my family and spending time with them.
'I think while they're young it's really important that I do that. But I'm absolutely buzzing for the club and to be involved in a team that's been able to get that opportunity and give that to the fans, to hopefully have the group stages to look forward to. It brings me nothing but pride to be a part of that really.
'One of the big reasons for coming up here was to be involved in something. The way it's gone has made it even more special, the fact that we were struggling at the start – you could see that around the club it wasn't too happy.
"But I'm leaving it now in a better position and with the buzz around the club looking forward with a great core to the group – and I'm sure the boys will push on from that and I think the start of the season will be very bright.'
Gayle now plans to help players make their way in the game by becoming an agent. He added: 'I'm going to go back down south and plan to go into agency work.
'It's something I want to do to help other players and be involved in football. It's what I love. It also gives me a bit more of time to spend with the kids for the day-to-day, school drop-ins and stuff like that. So I'm really excited to do that.
'It allows me to come back and pretend I'm scouting players here and gives me an excuse to come and watch the Europa games.'
Hibs boss David Gray, meanwhile, hailed Jack Iredale after the defender was included in a 23-man Australia squad for an upcoming training camp.
Iredale is joined by Hibs team-mates Martin Boyle, Lewis Miller and Nectar Triantis for the Abu Dhabi get together as the Socceroos attempt to clinch World Cup qualification in next month's clashes with Japan and Saudi Arabia.
Gray said: 'I passed him in the corridor after he found out and he was pretty quick to come and tell me.
'I don't know if it was more shock or whatever but he was just all excited – a wee kid in a candy store, which was brilliant.
'I'm delighted for him because he really deserves it based on his level of performance, his consistency and what he's done for this football club. The players have demonstrated that if they're playing at a high level for Hibs and performing well, that's a level that's good enough to get into the manager's mind for the national teams, which is brilliant.'
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