26th June 2001
Toulouse lose out again
French club running out of options
(Stuart Crowther)

THE SAGA OF MARC LIBBRA's permanent move to Easter Road took another twist yesterday when his French club Toulouse had their latest moves for reinstatement to the first division thrown out by a French court.

Toulouse have been trying to have their relegation overturned both through the courts and via appeals to the French football authorities, on the one hand because of alleged illegalities of other French clubs in fielding players who had arrived in the country on false passports, and on the other trying to prove that their financial status would improve enough to allow them to play in the second division, rather than the further relegation to division three handed down by the football authorities.

While Marseille have been successful in appealing their relegation on financial grounds, it does not look good for Toulouse who have already had one appeal rejected.  Quite how this will effect the sale of Libbra to Hibernian is not yet know, Hibs managing director Rod Petrie having shown remarkable calm and patience in negotiations that have been protracted, with Toulouse insisting on a few of £1m, while making noises about other interested clubs in an attempt to put pressure on Hibs.  The French side also wish to sell their defender Bodo Balde to Celtic for £2.5m, the player however refusing to be rushed into a decision which is further frustrating his club who are in dire need of a cash injection.

Hibs still hope to complete negotiations over Libbra one way or another this week, if possible in time to allow the player to join in pre-season training on Thursday with the rest of the squad.

Lovell - reached peak (sns)

Mixu Paatelainen meanwhile is in Finland considering his options after talks with Hibs ended in deadlock last week.  Paatelainen's existing contract ends this week, and it now looks likely that he will join former Motherwell striker John Spencer at Colorado Rapids in the United States.  "I know there is interest from the United States," Paatelainen said last night, adding: "But for now I'm just training on my own at home in Finland and hoping there will be a quick solution to it all.  I am sorry to have to leave Hibs, but I enjoyed every second of my time at Easter Road."

Stuart Lovell is another familiar face who will not be around when the squad get together again on Thursday, and the player was yesterday commenting on why he felt his time at Easter Road came to an end.  Lovell said: "I had a feeling that Alex McLeish maybe thought I had reached my peak and he was going to bring in players to take the club to a new level."  The arrival of Ulises de la Cruz and Allen Ormand seems to confirm these thoughts.  Ormand still looks certain to sign in time for pre-season on Thursday, while De La Cruz will fly back in to Edinburgh to train for a few days with his new team-mates before returning to Ecuador in time for the Copa America tournament.