Gow's return to Hibs has a price tag

HIBS have been told they'll have to cough up if they want striker Alan Gow to return to Easter Road on a permanent basis.

The former Airdrie, Falkirk and Rangers forward spent four months on loan with John Hughes' squad after falling out of favour at Plymouth Argyle but failed to make the desired impact despite scoring on his debut.

The final goal in the 5-1 defeat of Montrose in the Scottish Cup was the highlight of the 27-year-old's stay in Edinburgh, Gow making a total of just eight appearances as he found himself dogged by injury.

Gow returned to Plymouth, where he has a year of his contract to run, at the end of the season but has made it clear he doesn't want to stay at Home Park, believing his future lies elsewhere and having openly stated he'd jump at the chance to join Hibs permanently.

But while Plymouth need to cut their wage bill to face up to life in League One following relegation after eight years in the Championship, the Devon club have made it clear they simply won't pay off Gow and three others, including hitman Steve MacLean who spent the latter half of last season on loan at Aberdeen, who find themselves in a similar situation.

Argyle's executive director Keith Todd said: "I simply don't buy into this idea that players who allegedly don't want to return to the club will be paid off. Let me be clear, there are no soft routes from this football club.

"We will expect players who are under contract to come back in time for pre-season. There can be no exemptions.

"I say allegedly because I haven't heard for myself that Gow or MacLean have said they do not want to come back to Plymouth. However, it doesn't change the fact or principle that we will not be paying players off."