Ex-Blackpool boss set to face player who left because of 'different direction' this weekend

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Two former Blackpool figures will be involved in this weekend’s Edinburgh derby between Hibernian and Hearts.

Ex-Seasiders head coach Neil Critchley will be in the dugout for the visitors to Easter Road on Sunday, in his second league game in charge of the Jam Tarts following their 4-0 victory over St Mirren on Saturday.

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The 45-year-old was sacked from his role at Bloomfield Road just two league games into the current season, but quickly returned to work after accepting the top job at Tynecastle.

A player Critchley will know well is Hibernian defender Marvin Ekpiteta - who made the move to the SPL in the summer following the conclusion of his contract at Blackpool.

The 29-year-old admitted it was the right time to move on after four years on the Fylde Coast, with the system being implemented not suiting his strengths.

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Discussing his Seasiders departure back in May, he said: “Since we went down last season I feel like the club wanted to go in a slightly different direction, and I want to play as high as possible, so it was a nice amicable time to part ways.

“I hadn’t made the decision until the end of the season to be honest. I was back in the team, just wanted to push to get promoted. We didn’t have any contract talks until the club knew what division it was in- that was good because it wasn’t playing on my mind.

“We had a meeting a week after the last game. They sort of knew where I stood and where my head was at, while they wanted to bring in someone a bit younger and more suited to the philosophy of where the club is going.

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“I knew the system wasn’t playing to my strengths and that it’d take a while to adapt because it was a whole new philosophy.

“When you first come down you don’t really have much time to gel because everyone wants results. These things take time, it’s other teams that play a similar style a few years to kick on, but we were at the early stage.

“You try too hard because you know what’s being asked of you. You can try a bit too much instead of just playing your normal game.

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“It was the first time I had played in a back three, and the demand was different.”

Ekpiteta has featured 11 times for Hibernian so far, but it hasn’t been plain sailing, with David Gray’s side currently sat bottom of the SPL table after picking up just five points in their opening eight games.

It’s also been a similar story for Hearts, who are only above their rivals on goal difference.

Another player Critchley will recognise in the Hibs squad is Luke Amos, with the ex-Tottenham midfielder being at QPR during the former Liverpool youth coach’s time at Loftus Road.

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