5th June 2001
Townsley tops McLeish in 'well hate game
Hibs target shrugs off his critics
(Stuart Crowther)

DEREK TOWNSLEY may yet be the first new face at Easter Road this summer, as the former Motherwell player considers an offer already made by Alex McLeish - and Townsley knows that if he does come to Easter Road, he will be in good company alongside Alex McLeish as the men 'well fans most like to dislike!

Townsley is the type of player managers like to call 'utility', which in effect means he can play just about anywhere.  He is also the type of player that fans believe can't play period, and much as has already happened at Easter Road with Stuart Lovell, this could see Townsley on a path to head-on collision with Hibs fans as this is a player who speaks his mind, as his parting shot to Motherwell fans clearly shows.

Townsley said in a recent interview following the end of his playing days at Fir Park: "I would say the decent Motherwell fans are in a minority, about 80% of them are a waste of time.  Half of them would not know a football if it hit them on the head."  And this from a player who was actually on the short-list as player of the year for the Fir Park club, after tuning in some excellent performances as their season progressed.

Derek Townsley in action for 'well (sns)

Alex McLeish has seen in Townsley the same qualities he saw in such as John O'Neil, Gary Smith, Ulrik Laursen and Paul Fenwick, but that it seems is not good enough for some Hibs fans who even attempted to start a petition on the Hibs.net message board last week in protest a the imminent arrival of the former Queen of the South player.  Missing the ball completely from six yards out when Motherwell last came to Easter Road did not perhaps help the perception that McLeish is on the verge of clinching yet another bargain, but insiders at Motherwell - who clearly don't wish to be named lest they be next on the pillory at Fir Park - insist that in Townsley Hibs will have a player who give 100% and retains a confidence in his own ability that is fully justified.

Townsley is thinking over the Hibs offer along with others from lower-league clubs in the south, but the player has been a long-term target for McLeish and it seems he is Easter Road bound, provided of course that McLeish sticks around.  West Ham have continued their search for a new leader this week and look no nearer a solution now than they where a week ago, with a bid for McLeish once again coming onto their agenda, according to sources in London.  It should also be noted however that the Hibs boss made it clear enough that it would take an exceptional offer from any club to lure him away, and there has to be some doubt over the ability of the Hammers to produce such an offer.

Hibernian meanwhile are finalising plans for their pre-season tour in France.  The dates are expected to be confirmed as from 13th to 21st July, with at least one of the games being against Franck Sauzee's former club Marseille, who are currently in the middle of an appeal against relegation to the French first division for the same financial irregularities that are affected Marc Libbra's side, Toulouse.