Wolves pave way for Leigh move to Hibs

Mick McCARTHY has paved the way for Leigh Griffiths’ move to Easter Road to be made permanent after revealing he’s willing to sell the Scotland Under-21 striker in the January transfer window.

The Wolves boss bought Griffiths barely a year ago in a £150,000 deal from Dundee but the Hibs-daft forward managed just one match for the Molineux outfit – a Carling Cup tie against Northampton – before coming to Edinburgh on loan.

The then Hibs boss Colin Calderwood had raised the prospect of making that a permanent move before he was sacked at the beginning of last month.

However, his successor, Pat Fenlon, revealed he’s already explored the possibility of extending Griffiths’ loan deal, which is due to expire on January 9, to the end of the season.

Now, though, Fenlon may find himself in a bidding war for the former Livingston hitman with McCarthy disclosing other Scottish clubs are interested in acquiring his services.

McCarthy has decided to off-load a number of fringe players next month including Griffiths who has former Hibs star Steven Fletcher, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Kevin Doyle ahead of him in the Molineux pecking order.

He said: “Leigh isn’t going to get in my team so if I can sell him, I’ll sell him. I don’t see him getting in my first team now and if it means we sell him on with a sell-on clause so be it.

“Colin Calderwood wanted to sign him and I’ve had a discussion with Pat Fenlon and we’re leaving it as it is for now. There are a couple of other Scottish clubs who fancy Leigh.”

Griffiths was missing as Hibs lost to a controversial Scott Vernon penalty at Aberdeen, a defeat which leaves Fenlon’s side and Dunfermline rooted to the foot of the SPL, as he served a one-match suspension following his offensive gesture towards Rangers fans the previous week.

And Fenlon admitted he could have done with Griffiths at Pittodrie, conceding his team lacked the guile which he felt the absentee could have provided and agreed he’ll look forward to welcoming him back into the fold for this weekend’s trip to Tannadice.

Although McCarthy is likely to be hard to deal with in regard to Griffiths, Fenlon has made no secret of the fact he’s looking to bring in fresh faces next month although he’s well aware arrivals will have to be balanced by departures.

He said: “We know we need players in certain areas and we will try to get players in but for someone to come in someone has to go out.”