by Stuart Crowther

Date: 7th May 2002

Johnson first strike for Williamson? ..but no quick deals BOBBY WILLIAMSON MIGHT YET turn to his former club Kilmarnock for his first signing of the summer, in the form of former Celtic hit-man Tommy Johnson -  but there will be no quick deals, and lips are sealed tight at Easter Road. Johnson has been linked with a move to Easter Road almost from the day Williamson departed Ayrshire, but even with the player out of contract this summer a move from Kilmarnock is by no means certain, with Johnson saying that he would like to remain with the Ayrshire club - if the terms are right.  However Killie boss Jim Jefferies has to face the same financial restriction burden weighing down every SPL manager, although the former Hearts boss is not aware of any interest in his player from Hibs. Jefferies said: "I have no idea about any interest from Hibs in Tommy.  We have spoken to the player but he is free to negotiate with anyone and we, as a club, have to work within our own budget.  We will make him an offer and if it is not right for him then he will have other options.  Tommy has indicated that he wants to stay at Kilmarnock and we have had talks about that."  Ominously however, Jefferies added: "A lot of clubs are not in the positions they were before the collapse of the television deal."  That would indicate that Killie's offer will fall well short of what Johnson is receiving in his current deal, and by the same measure Hibs may no be able offer much more. Craig Brewster Hibs boss Bobby Williamson has already made it clear he would like to keep Craig Brewster at Easter Road, it remains to be seen if managing director Rod Petrie can come up with the cash to sign either player let alone both.  Brewster, like Johnson, will not hang around too long to find out either, with both players having other options, a return to Greece looking a distinct possibility for Brewster who will be looking to clinch a new deal as soon as possible after Hibs final game in Perth on Sunday. The number of professional footballers on the dole took a leap again over the weekend when Stenhousemuir axed seven players - included former Hibee Chris Jackson.  This signals the start of what is expected to be hundreds of pros scrambling for few jobs, with Clydebank, who currently have no players at all on their books, making their intentions clear for next season, to sign up to 20 players on £50-a-week short terms deals.  And with the collapse of ITV Digital meaning matters are even worse in the English league, options for pros at every level appear to be diminishing rapidly this summer. Some English clubs announced increases in season ticket prices by as much as 25% over the weekend.  That is not an option being taken by many clubs in Scotland, with Hibernian already having announced that prices will remain the same for next season - but urging fans to purchase their tickets as early as possible.  Managing director Rod Petrie will be watching the situation closely, if the Easter Road fans respond then he might just be able to loosen the purse strings enough to allow the manager to go for the likes of Johnson - otherwise it will be as you were for next season, minus a few well-kent faces such as Brewster and German midfielder Mathias Jack, both of whom could play their last game for the club on Sunday.