Pat Fenlon keen to bring Tim Clancy to Easter Road

HIBERNIAN manager Pat Fenlon is set to have face-to-face talks with Tim Clancy in a bid to finalise a move for the defender.

The former Kilmarnock player informed Motherwell manager Stuart McCall earlier this week that he would not be agreeing a new two-year contract to stay for the Fir Park side’s historic debut in the Champions League.

The 27-year-old is also being tracked by a club south of the Border, where he played with Millwall, but is being widely tipped to become part of the new-look Hibs team being constructed by Fenlon this summer.

The Irishman is now expected to meet his countryman in the coming days to decide on his future. A source close to the deal said: “Pat will want to have a chat with Tim and vice-versa. Tim has a couple of options and he will need to talk to the two clubs.”

Yesterday, Clancy admitted that it had been a difficult decision to turn down Motherwell’s offer of a new contract. He was a regular starter at Fir Park after signing from Kilmarnock in August and helped Motherwell reach the Champions League qualifiers, where they will face either Dynamo Kiev, Fenerbahce, Panathinaikos or Copenhagen.

Clancy told www.motherwellfc.co.uk: “It was a very hard decision for me to leave as I loved my time at the club so much.

“I have read online that I have been quoted as saying that any move away would be a step up – I said nothing of the sort and have no idea where it has came from.

“I have too much respect for the club, the manager and the fans for that. 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 Graham Stack this week joining club captain Ian Murray in being told they no longer have futures at the club and with seven loan players having been released back to their parent clubs, Fenlon faces a major task in rebuilding his Hibs team in time for next season.

Clancy could be on board soon, but Fenlon has warned fans they will need to be patient. He said: “A lot of changes need to be made in relation to the football club. Groundwork has been done and we are making some progress, but these things do not happen overnight; it takes a bit of patience. We will get there.”