Hibernian boss John Hughes is adamant he would not have signed for Hearts after Jim Jefferies revealed he was contemplating a move for the centre-back in 1995.

The Hearts manager was poised to make a move for Hibee Hughes when the defender was at Falkirk but, despite Jefferies confident he would have joined the Tynecastle side, Hughes insists there is no way he would have wore the maroon shirt.

Ahead of their first Edinburgh derby clash as managers, Hughes said: "All the speculation was around the time Jim and Billy left Falkirk and went to Hearts.

"Would I have signed for them? No, I very much doubt that. I would possibly have said thanks but no thanks. I would possibly have stayed at Falkirk to tell you the truth.

"I was in the process of negotiating a contract which tied in with a testimonial and all that stuff. I was close to that because it was a club close to my heart.

"When Celtic come calling then it is a no-brainer, everybody in Scottish football wants to go and play for one half of the Old Firm."

The lifelong Hibs fan revealed that throughout his career he was waiting for a chance to join the Easter Road club.

"I'm not going to sit here and patronise the Hibs fans but every year I was at Falkirk it was always rumoured I was coming to Easter Road.

"It was always my ambition to come and play for Hibs. Even when I was at Celtic there were a number of clubs who came in for me and I wouldn't have left for any of them.

"There was only one club I would have left Celtic for if I was going to stay in Scotland and that was Hibs. I am grateful I got the chance to go on and play for them and captain them.

"Hibs has played a big part in my life and I always had the ambition to manage here.”

Despite being close friends with Jefferies and his assistant Billy Brown, Hughes is looking forward to playing against them in the Edinburgh derby.

“I look forward to this game and the chance to go up against Jim and Billy even though we've locked horns stacks of times. This is the first time we have come together in an Edinburgh derby.

"I regard the two of them as real close friends, they have always been on the phone to me right throughout my career. Even when I came here I was up talking to Billy at his house about wee bits and pieces.

"Having said all that my game head will be on and I'll be focused and trying to get this result for Hibs."