Hibs boss setting out on quest for new faces

Colin CALDERWOOD will travel across Britain to cast his eye over potential additions to his Hibs squad over the next two days.

The Easter Road boss will embark on a two-day scouting mission to identify new signings to augment a first team squad that is becoming increasingly smaller.

Seven out-of-contract players have already been told they can leave and a further seven are subject to confirmation in the coming weeks whether or not they will remain at Hibs. That leaves 13 players signed for next season - excluding loans - and has encouraged Calderwood to take in games in England tomorrow and Scotland on Saturday to analyse summer transfer targets.

"We'll be out and probably take in a game in England on Friday, then Scotland on Saturday," confirmed Calderwood. "I don't think it would be wise to say where (we are going]."

First-team squad members Graeme Smith, John Rankin, Kevin McBride, Colin Nish, and Valdas Trakys are confirmed departures from Hibs come the end of this season, while youngsters Thomas Flynn and Ewan Moyes will also leave.

Easter Road talisman Derek Riordan and his fellow striker Ricardo Vaz Te, as well as Graham Stack, Francis Dickoh, Steven Thicot, and Liam Miller, are yet to learn if they will stay at the club. Loan players Jakub Divis, Richie Towell, and Darryl Duffy are also waiting to thrash out their futures.

Meanwhile, reports today suggested Hibs midfielder Lewis Stevenson has been offered a one-year contract extension. His deal was due to expire at the close of the current campaign.