Hibs set to swoop for Stoke city pair
Pat Fenlon
Hibs were today poised to snap up Stoke City midfielders Michael Tonge and Tom Soares after the relegation-threatened Easter Road club again fell to just one point from bottom place in the SPL table.
Boss Pat Fenlon has insisted he’s been working “morning, noon and night” in his efforts to revamp the failing squad he inherited from predecessor Colin Calderwood. But while Junior Agogo, Matt Thornhill, Victor Palsson and David Crawford have all left – with Akpo Sodje likely to join them in heading for the exit door – so far Fenlon has only managed to add Irish striker Eoin Doyle and on-loan Norwich City kid George Francomb.
Now Fenlon faces a race against time to bolster his squad with only eight days of the January transfer window remaining and fans becoming increasingly anxious about SPL survival following Saturday’s defeat by St Johnstone, a result which leaves them with only one home league win in almost a year.
Fenlon missed the after-match press conference, said to have had to dash away on the final whistle, but, according to reports circulating down south today he’s lined up loan moves for Tonge and Soares who have fallen out of favour at the Britannia Stadium. At 28 and with almost 300 appearances for Sheffield United, Tonge certainly has the experience Fenlon is seeking to help guide his youngsters – Saturday’s starting line-up containing five under-21 internationalists along with Francomb.
A £2 million signing by Stoke, Tonge has struggled to earn himself a regular starting place, spending two spells on loan at Preston and another with Derby County and was left out of the Stoke squads named for the first half of both the English Premier League and Europa League this season.
Soares has similarly found life difficult since his £1.25m move from Crystal Palace and, like Tonge, has only found action while on loan, in his case at Charlton Athletic and Sheffield Wednesday.
Fenlon, however, has refused to comment on possible arrivals, insisting it would be wrong to do so until agreements are reached, the Irishman having been linked with moves for Coventry City defender James McPake, St Mirren midfielder Jim Goodwin as well as Shamrock Rovers striker Gary Twigg.
He will, though, cast an eye over Arsenal kid Rhys Murphy in a closed doors match against Partick Thistle today, the Republic of Ireland striker having spent the last week on trial with Hibs.
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Comments
There are 93 comments to this article
Page 1 of 7
The Yak Farmer
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 01:46 PM92 - Come on now. Try a wee bit harder than that. Try typing with 2 hands for a change - I know you normally make do with the one, but you should use the 2. It may raise your self-esteem.... Anyways, back to the semi-serious chat - it looks as if it's Soares and McPake are the new additions for now. Check out Soares old Twitter posts about Millwall fans. V funny in my opinion! lol
BASHABIGOT
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 01:12 PM90, thats a bit rich coming from you Eeyore!!
The Daddy
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 11:58 AMGo on farmer yam - tell em - tellem tel.
The Yak Farmer
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 11:46 AM#83 - I see you like giving it large from behind your Fisher Price keyboard.
The Daddy
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 11:37 AMWhen i left Craigroyston high school i went straight to Hibernian and was playing for the first team at 17 we played for the jersey. none of the nonsence like todays players.
JaimeDLG
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 11:51 PMLooks like Barnsley are in the hunt for Tonge
The Daddy
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 11:07 PMThere's men and there's boys, goodnight son, NOT.
The Daddy
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 11:04 PMpop in and buy me a pint.
The Daddy
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 10:48 PMThen you can go back into hiding as you have done past 2 month, keyboard commando, boiler suit wearer,
The Daddy
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 10:45 PM83 BASHMYWICKET you have serious attitude, see your GP, ask mum for more pocket money, but seek help soon, even buy a parade or fiesta, that helps ease the pain,
BASHABIGOT
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 10:27 PMthe mentality of the average hibby poster on here is beyond ridicule, thank you for your delusion as reading the guff your kind spout everyday incites a more vigorous determination to continue to dominate (own) the derby and keep the hobo clowns even more bitter and twisted as their tormentors rip them a new one on a daily basis. I LOVE HIBS (AND THEIR MUPPET FANS) DO YOU ???
Honest Opinion
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 08:59 PMhttps:twitter.com#!ryanmcnairnstatus160800750648295424photo1 why does leigh Griffiths continue to do it?
Pandoras Box
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 08:37 PMCome on, come on, Come on, come on, Come on, come on, Come on D'you wanna be in my gang , my gang, my gang, D'you wanna be in my gang, Oh Yeah! I'm the leader, I'm the leader, I'm the leader of the gang I am I'm the leader, I'm the leader, Well there's no one like the man I'm I can take you high as a kite every single night I can make you jump out of bed standing on my head Who'd ever believe it, Come on come on D'you wanna be in my gang, a my gang, my gang, oh Hibees we love you.
Major Attraction
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 08:31 PMWhat have we at 79#. does he know about caps. or is he a gorgorian.
BASHABIGOT
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 08:28 PMTHE YAK FARMER IS HURTING BADLY THESE DAYS, never mind Eeyore you will be put out to pastures new next season.
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