Hibs manager sounds warning to Leigh Griffiths

Griffiths aimed the gesture at fans who had criticised him for an earlier miss

Hibs boss Pat Fenlon has warned that Leigh Griffiths faces the axe if his on-field conduct does not improve.

The on-loan striker has picked up two suspensions within a month for gesturing at supporters.

"He's got to learn quickly or he's not going to play," said Fenlon.

"If that is what is going to continue throughout the season, then he's not going to play because I can't have players that are going to be suspended on a regular basis."

Griffiths will miss the next round of Scottish Cup action after the Edinburgh club failed to overturn a ban incurred for a gesture aimed at fans during Saturday's 3-2 win at Cowdenbeath.

The Scottish Football Association's fast-track tribunal ruled that the 21-year-old was guilty of breaching rule 200 with "offensive, insulting or abusive gestures" deemed a sending-off offence.

Griffiths directed his ire at Hibs fans, who had earlier criticised him for a miss, after equalising at Central Park.

It mirrored a gesture he made at Rangers fans during a 2-0 loss on 10 December, for which Griffiths immediately accepted a ban.

"I've spoken to Leigh about this," added a frustrated Fenlon.

"We had a conversation after the Rangers game and obviously it didn't register too quickly."

Earlier this month, Hibs extended their agreement with Wolves to keep Griffiths until the end of the season.