Picture: Action Images/Lee Smith
Hibs boss John Hughes has today hit out at Kevin Drinkell, the agent of Falkirk & Scotland defender Darren Barr.
Barr, 24, has knocked back a pre-contract agreement with the Hibees, and Hughes believes his agent is to blame.
The Hibees have been linked with Barr since Hughes took over the Easter Road hot-seat in the summer, after leaving Falkirk.
Hughes is keen to land Barr, and boost his sides’ European push, but isn’t happy with how Drinkell, a close personal friend of the Hibs boss, has acted, he said:
"Darren is a player I know well having worked with him. I know his qualities.
"He wears his heart on his sleeve and is one I'd like to bring to the club. We have been talking to him.
"But we just feel it's gone a bit too far. I have to be honest, I felt the agent, and he is a good friend of mine, is trying to play games with us.
"We're not getting involved in that so it's one that's on the back-burner at the moment.
"There is only one Hibs but there are hundreds of right-backs and centre-halves out there. I'd like to think we can get a couple of defenders in. We are always looking to enhance the squad but it's not just a case of bringing in for the sake of it."
Hughes has already signed Brighton keeper Graeme Smith and also failed to sign former Aberdeen captain Russell Anderson from Sunderland, and is hopeful the Hibs board will continue to back him in the January transfer window, he said:
"We need to strengthen and I'd like to think the board of directors would go and back that if we need to get someone. If there is anything going about, I'm trying to get it.
"I might have to shuffle my pack, put one or two out on loan, and get one or two in.
"But if we don't get anyone in, I still think a lot of the boys have got a lot to show such as Lewis Stevenson, Kurtis Byrne, Patrick Cregg and Benji."
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