Hibs - four players told to find new clubs

Last updated : 08 January 2014 By Steve Forbes

Hibs boss Terry Butcher has told four first team members that they have no future at Easter Road.

Defender Tim Clancy, midfielders Kevin Thomson & Tom Taiwo, as well as forward Rowan Vine are all free to find new clubs.

Tim Clancy, 29, was close to agreeing a move home to Ireland with Derry City, but apparently both his former clubs, Motherwell (who Hibs signed him from) and Kilmarnock are said to have let their interest be known in landing the Irishman.

Striker Rowan Vine arrived from St Johnstone in the summer, after an impressive spell in Perth, but the 31-year-old has struggled for form since moving to Easter Road.

Also set to leave Edinburgh is combatitive midfielder Tom Taiwo.

The 23-year-old signed from Carlisle last year, and initially started his Hibs career in good form, however his form then dipped, and he found himself in-and-out the team under former boss Pat Fenlon.

It hasn't got any better for the former Chelsea kid, since the arrival of Terry Butcher, with the Englishman only playing about 15 minutes of football since the new man took the helm.

Last but not least, and maybe a bit surprising is Kevin Thomson.

The classy 29-year-old is another who has struggled for form this year, but with his quality and pedigree, looked to be a big player under Butcher.

However, the outstanding form of Liam Craig and Scott Robertson in the Hibees engine room has meant that former Rangers and Middlesbrough man Thomson has only made one, brief, sub appearance under Butcher.

The Scotland midfielder, in his second spell at the Hibees, is said to already have a couple of lucrative offers to play abroad.

All four players are out of contract in the summer, and Hibs boss Butcher has told them they can go now, in an attempt to free up wages in his budget so he can bolster his squad in the January transfer window,

Butcher is said to be hoping to sign 3 or 4 players that will help his rejuvinated side have a strong finish to the season.