Colin Calderwood foiled over Hibs transfer targets, but vows to maintain search

HIBERNIAN manager Colin Calderwood has revealed he has already been foiled in his attempts to make new signings as he looks to bolster his squad during this month's transfer window.

The Easter Road manager admitted the offer made by Sven-Goran Eriksson's Leicester City for defender Sol Bamba had been too good to turn down following the departure of the Ivory Coast international for 250,000 on Sunday.

He has described the move as good for both player and club, with the former Dunfermline player's contract due to expire in the summer. However, Calderwood has already found that it will not be as straightforward when it comes to adding the fresh faces his side desperately requires.

With the capital outfit currently in tenth spot and only five points above bottom side Hamilton January could prove a crucial month as they bid to avoid a relegation battle in the second half of a so-far dismal campaign.

He said: "It happened very quickly with Sol. We had an offer and we came to an agreement with the club. It was an opportunity with his situation, with his contract running down, that it was a good deal for the club. We wish Sol all the very best and we hope he continues to be successful. It's a terrific move for him but also a good move for ourselves in terms of it being a good bit of business.

"I think there will be a bit of speculation this month and a lot more speculation than actually happens. We'll continue to view one or two players, just to make sure we make the right decisions and we'll try to conclude a deal.

"But it can be quite awkward through this period and already stumbling blocks have appeared, in terms of people getting back into teams or getting injured.

"As much as we have our targets in place, other things - other variables - that can happen have already blocked one or two moves. It's more difficult to have something absolutely certain at this time of year because you don't have as many players out of contract. So, you are always left to another club making a decision and then the player. It becomes awkward."

Calderwood has brought back youngsters Kurtis Byrne, Callum Booth and Scott Taggart from loan spells with East Fife, Brechin City and Ayr United respectively, and is hopeful the trio can also prove they deserve to help augment his squad for the run-in. In an interview of Hibernian TV, he added: "I think good experience has been had by being out on loan and what we've seen in training has been quite encouraging. We want to have them around here so that, if the opportunity arises, or if they prove to us that they are worth a place in the team, then they get that (opportunity).One or two of them might have had some sort of outings before Christmas if they had been here.

"But the situation is that the ball is certainly in their court and their performances in training and in bounce games, and when they are involved with the first-team squad, will decide whether they have a long run in the first team or it becomes a drip feed in."