Free agent Tim Clancy poised to secure his switch to Hibs

Irish defender Tim Clancy is likely to be confirmed as Hibernian’s first signing of the summer this week.

The 27-year-old agreed a deal with the Easter Road outfit last month after rejecting Motherwell’s offer of a contract extension but the move has been on hold while Hibs manager Pat Fenlon has been on holiday.

Fenlon returns from his close-season break this morning and will immediately resume work ahead of the new season at the club’s East Mains training complex.

Completing the formality of making Clancy a Hibernian player is likely to be high on the Easter Road manager’s agenda.

The former Millwall defender arrives in Edinburgh after a successful campaign at Motherwell, having signed for the Lanarkshire outfit in 2011. Prior to that he played over 60 times in four years with Kilmarnock.

Equally comfortable at full-back or centre-back, Clancy made 31 appearances for the Steelmen last season, playing a pivotal role in Stuart McCall’s team earning third spot in the SPL and a crack at the Champions League.

Upon leaving the Fir Park side, Clancy said: “It was a very hard decision for me to leave as I loved my time at the club so much.

“I want to thank everyone for making me feel so welcome and I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed for the boys when they embark on their European run in July.”

With Clancy on board, Hibs remain on the look-out for further defensive reinforcements as Fenlon seeks to rebuild a back-line which conceded 81 goals in all competitions last season.

The Easter Road side have been tracking the progress of Slovakian international defender Lubomir Michalik, who left Carlisle United earlier this summer, and are expected to hold fresh talks with the player’s agent in the coming days, although the Edinburgh outfit face stiff competition for the 28-year-old.

Preston North End are understood to be keen on the former Leeds United and Bolton man, while Champions League-bound Polish champions Slask Wroclaw have also emerged as an interested party.

James McPake is likely to remain on Hibs’ radar after an impressive loan spell in the second half of last season where he captained the side with aplomb, but no move has yet been made by the Easter Road powerbrokers.

Meanwhile, Paul Cairney is another to have effectively agreed to be part of Fenlon’s new-look Hibs team next season, and is expected to sign his contract in the coming days.

Cairney has already stated his desire to make the move to the capital, with the 24-year-old Partick Thistle midfielder saying: “Hibs are a massive club and I would love to get the chance to play for them so, hopefully, something can get agreed.”