Hibs ready to drive a hard bargain

With swathes of the first-team squad all out of contract, only a handful are being courted in a bid to get them to extend their stay with the capital club. Other targets have already been identified but the manager has warned he will not be used as a pawn by players or agents seeking to broker bigger deals.

In the post-Bosman era, the belief was that power had swung away from the clubs and towards the players but, with financial constraints leading to the squeezing of squads, players no longer hold all the aces, according to Calderwood.

"It hasn't turned full circle but there was an element that every club chased players and that led to contract offers." But, with so many players seeking employment, things have changed now. "I know people who are still looking for offers so they can go elsewhere and say they have been offered contracts by xyz, whether it's here or in England, and they use that to get more, but any offer we make will be there for 48 hours, maybe a week, and then if they don't want to commit after that, then I would walk away.

"Yes, even if that means losing out. You make a choice. Listen, if you want an offer and we want to give you it, it's not there for you to put on a fishing line. I know it's the way of the world that once you have an offer you go away and use that, but what we won't do is make an offer and then find out he has been offered a fiver more up the road and when he comes back give him 10. It will be the offer and that's it."

Of his current squad he has already made it clear who will have to seek new pastures while also expressing an interest in a handful he would like to keep.

While others are biding their time and have always stated a desire to see out the season before making any decision, Calderwood says that Francis Dickoh has made it clear he would like to stay. The defender, who is suspended for this evening's match away to Inverness Caledonian Thistle, joins Michael Hart, Ian Murray and Danny Galbraith on the sidelines, but his boss says they "still have enough" available to go out looking for their first win in five games.

Recent results have underlined the need for improvements in personnel ahead of the new campaign. But Calderwood recognises the need to blend old with new.

Ivan Sproule is expected to be the first of several new additions to sign up, with the Hibs manager claiming that, while nothing is "set in stone", it is "quite far down the line", but he is also still keen to retain the services of Derek Riordan, Liam Miller, Graham Stack and Dickoh.Talks, he says, have been spasmodic due to Eddie Turnbull's funeral, as well as preparations for tonight's trip north and then the final game of the season at home to Aberdeen on Saturday, but he adds that he won't allow matters to be spun out much longer.

"Everyone will be tied down within the five days after the Aberdeen game, he said." Which will then leave him with a clearer picture with regards additions for next season. Calderwood added: "I think everybody will expect a rash of signings but I think if you are secure in your own mind that a deal is done and dusted, and know it will take place on a date that will accommodate the player and other clubs, then that's okay. Ideally, you have got some people signed, even if they aren't actually physically signed, then what we definitely must have is an allowance through pre-season and right up to the transfer deadline that we have funds available so that we can add to the squad, because as many people that you think are available now, there will be almost the same wanting to come on trial or wanting to do a pre-season and that's the thing players have got to think about.

"If you don't attach yourself to a club or you don't accept an offer, then you might miss a pre-season. Being at the club doing their pre-season and being part of their plans is better than going on trial ten days here and ten days there. I think if I was a footballer now and I had two offers now, I would pick one and take it quite quickly."