BY ALAN TEMPLE – Capital City Press
Hibernian have confirmed that Scott Allan has handed in a transfer request, however the capital club remain adamant the want-away playmaker will not be sold to Rangers.
The 23-year-old has been the subject of two failed bids from the Ibrox outfit, with Hibs describing the offers of £175,000 and £225,000 as “unwelcome” and “uninviting”.
Allan, a boyhood Rangers supporter, is keen to make the move along the M8 and is seeking to engineer an exit from Easter Road by handing in a formal transfer request following talks with head coach Alan Stubbs.
However, Stubbs has been unwavering in his insistence that Allan, whose contract expires at the end of the season, will not be allowed to join the Hibees prime Championship rivals.
And amid speculation that a third bid from Rangers could be imminent, Hibs were moved to release a club statement last night.
It read: “In the face of continued media interest, Hibernian Football Club can confirm that Scott Allan has today handed in a written transfer request.
“This comes on the back of two unwelcome and uninvited approaches from Rangers FC regarding Scott, the first for £175,000 and the second for £225,000.
“Hibernian FC has refused both bids because the Club has no wish to transfer a valuable player to strengthen a major rival in the battle to win the Championship and gain promotion to the Premiership.
“Hibernian’s position has not changed. The player will not be sold to Rangers.”
Stubbs told Hibs TV: “We’ll be very fair in how we deal with it, but we won’t be dictated to. I think that has been evident in what we have said. We have not gone back on anything we have said.
“We are determined to keep our best players and build a team capable of challenging for promotion.”
