Hibs still
in denial over McLeish
No approach has been made - at
least directly - STUART CROWTHER
HIBERNIAN ARE
CONTINUING THIS MORNING to deny that Rangers have made any direct
approach for Alex McLeish, but the general view remains that a deal has
already been done with the Hibs boss.
A club spokesman last
night continued to say only that no approach had been made by Rangers,
while club chairman Malcolm McPherson would say only that Alex McLeish
remained under contract to Hibernian and nothing had happened to change
that over the weekend. The telling factor however is that while
Rangers are well aware McLeish is being named as the successor of Dick
Advocaat at Ibrox, they have done nothing to deny any interest in the Hibs
boss, Advocaat himself saying only that he knew who his successor was to
be.
If McLeish is not to
take over the very hot seat at Ibrox, then Hibs would rightly expect
Rangers to do nothing to undermine the position of McLeish at Easter Road
ahead of the clash between the clubs on Wednesday at Ibrox. If
McLeish is therefore not the man for the Rangers job, then Rangers have
had a duty throughout a weekend of intense media speculation to say
so. Indeed the same can be said of Alex McLeish, who remained it
seemed out of contact to the media yesterday when, if the claims were
untrue, he might have been expected to come out and clear the air with a
categorical statement that he was not about to depart Easter Road.
Going, going - or gone? (sns)
"We
will make an announcement as soon as possible, there will be a new manager
and I know the name of my successor but I'm not saying,"
Advocaat told reporters after Rangers 3-1 win over Hearts yesterday,
adding: "It could be a little later than
Wednesday, I don't know, we will say it when we can do it."
In other words, when Rangers finally get around to talking to Hibernian,
or whoever else they have in mind for their poison chalice, they will let
the rest of the world know. If indeed Hibernian are telling the
truth and no approach has been made to the club, the Hibs have every right
to ask Rangers chairman David Murray how it is he spoke to McLeish without
permission while still manager of Hibernian.
It could be that talks
have been conducted quietly for some time, with reports that McLeish was
in Paris last Thursday to take in Rangers UEFA Cup clash with PSG.
It has also been reported that Wolves finally agreed to match Rangers
asking price of £3m, only to be told by Rangers that the player was no
longer for sale with no reason given. Ironically, should Rangers
have sold Miller to Wolves at that price it would have resulted in a
sell-on payment being made to Hibernian.
Whatever the truth
being the weekend's events, Hibs fans will demand that the matter is
clarified sooner rather than later, with perhaps a statement from the Hibs
boss himself that no approach has been made or talks taken place.
That, it is hoped, will come at some point today.
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