Zemmama's loan deal down to Hibs' compassion

HIBS boss Mixu Paatelainen today insisted Moroccan star Merouane Zemmama is not trying to engineer a move away from Easter Road following the shock news the little midfield star is to join Al-Shaab in the United Arab Emirates on loan.

Zemmama's departure follows hard on the heels of countryman Abdessalam Benjelloun moving to Belgian outfit Royal Charleroi on loan, the striker subsequently claiming there's an agreement to make that switch permanent.

But today Paatelainen was adamant the two situations were entirely different with Zemmama leaving on compassionate grounds to be with his pregnant wife Zineb who, at 17, is too young to gain a visa to enter this country.

Hibs made strenuous effort to have the Home Office relax their regulations – designed to prevent forced marriages – in Zemmama's case but the civil servants were unflinching.

Chairman Rod Petrie said: "We made inquiries but seemingly there is this rule that under 18s are not allowed in regardless of the age you can get married in the UK.

"The player tried and we tried but we came up against this rule and there was no way round it so the player and his agent came up with this alternative."

Paatelainen admitted he'd reluctantly resigned himself to allowing Zemmama to make a temporary move abroad in the circumstances, the playmaker having just forced his way back into the side after recovering from a broken foot.

However, he insisted Zemmama will be back in Edinburgh to see out the final two years of his contract which runs to 2011.

He said: "It's a difficult situation but there was no point in demanding that Merouane stay leaving us with a player whose mind was elsewhere. We tried to help, but the rules are there and cannot be broken.

"Obviously I am disappointed because I'd obviously have liked to have kept him and he was very much in my plans. On the other hand, I am glad we were able to help and we now look forward to him returning in a year.

"Although people may think Merouane and Benji are very close, that what one does the other wants to do, they are totally different characters. It's just the way things have happened."

Petrie added: "We were very clear and Merouane was very clear, it is a one-year loan deal with no options to buy."

Meanwhile, Hibs will sell tickets direct to Rangers fans for the SPL clash at Easter Road later this month after rejecting the Ibrox club's bid to impose a five per cent levy for distributing tickets for away matches.

Both sides of the Old Firm have introduced the charge claiming it helps offset the cost of administering to their large numbers of travelling supporters but Hibs chief executive Scott Lindsay insisted their move was wrong.

He said: "The existing system has been in existence for some years and, until now, enjoyed the support of all clubs."