HIBERNIAN clung onto their club captain, Rob Jones, during a nervous final day of the transfer window.

Carl Marston

By Carl Marston

HIBERNIAN clung onto their club captain, Rob Jones, during a nervous final day of the transfer window.

Colchester United had suffered a second knock-back at the end of last week, when their big-money bid for centre-half Jones was rejected by the Edinburgh club.

And even a strong bid from Nottingham Forest failed to encourage Hibs to part company with their inspirational centre-half yesterday. Hibs rejected an undisclosed offer for the 29-year-old, who enjoyed a day off training, no doubt to keep him away from all the transfer speculation.

It is believed that the U's recent second bid for Jones could have smashed the club's record transfer fee, if it had been accepted. The overall package could have been worth �500,000, if the U's had gone on to win promotion with Jones at the club.

U's manager Paul Lambert had also been hoping to sign a striker on loan before yesterday's transfer deadline, although nothing transpired.

At least Clive Platt will be available again for this Saturday's home match against Stockport, following a one-match suspension, while fellow striker Steven Gillespie will be hoping to return to action later this month after a calf injury.