by Stuart Crowther

Date: 9th May 2002

Brewster won't risk the waiting game .....no offer so striker is set for return to Greece CRAIG BREWSTER AND MATHIAS JACK hoped that a meeting with Hibs managing director Rod Petrie would lead to a firm offer of new deals yesterday - but instead both learned that the club are in no position to bargain, and that looks set to prompt a return to Greece for striker Brewster. A disappointed Brewster emerged from the meeting accepting the difficult position Hibs find themselves in along with every other SPL club, but with manager Bobby Williamson having already made it clear he wished to retain the services of the former Raith striker, there were hopes that a deal could be reached.  However Petrie would only promise to look again at the situation in June, and that is simply not good enough for Brewster who said: "Hibs have got to keep themselves on an even keel, they have the budget for next season and Rod was very honest in what he had to say and I appreciated that.  But at the same time, I have my own situation to look at and it's up to me to find alternatives." Brewster is understood to have had a number of offers to return to Greek football and it now looks odds-on that is where his immediate future will be.  "I can't just sit around," Brewster said, adding: "If nothing happens I would be happy to stay in Scotland, but everybody knows that clubs here don't have the money right now, it's a sign of the times, so if there is nothing in Scotland for me I will go back to Greece."  German midfield Mathias Jack meanwhile is in exactly the same position as Brewster, although it would appear that Jack is perhaps more prepared to wait until June at least and see what happens.  He said: "Hibs have confirmed they cannot offer me anything at the moment and I do understand that position. Craig Brewster - thinking Greek (sns) "I have had three fantastic years at Easter Road.  I think I have done a decent job here, and the fans like me!  Hibs are one of the biggest clubs in Scotland and I still hope that something can be done, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed, the manager wants me to stay - the waiting game continues!" The news follows reports yesterday that Petrie is seeking voluntary wage cuts from most of the senior players at the club, in exchange for higher bonus payments and longer contracts.  Hibs will be waiting anxiously on progress with both Sky and the BBC reported to still be interested in televising the SPL next season, but even if any deal is reached it will be well short of the cash income from television enjoyed by SPL clubs in recent years. Meanwhile Hibs could be set for a brief pre-season tour of Finland - although the details are yet to be finalised.  It was expected that the club would tour Denmark, however the cash shortage is effecting every aspect of the club at present and Hibs.net understands that the proposal from Finland includes the hosts picking up the tab.  There is also persistent reports that the club may be about to break a recent habit of not playing glamour pre-season friendlies at Easter Road with a possible clash against English Premiership side Everton at Easter Road a week before the new season gets underway.  There is renewed interest in Hibs in Finland, with national skipper Jarkko Wiss now at the club. Scotland boss Berti Vogts will this afternoon name his squad for a brief tour of the Far East, where the Scots will take on South Africa, South Korea and Hong Kong.  Hibs striker Garry O'Connor is expected to be named in the squad and looks set to add to his single international cap earned last month against Nigeria at Pittodrie. Former Hibs skipper John Hughes, released by Ayr United, looks set to return to another of his former clubs, Falkirk.