Hibs refuse new bid for captain Jones

HIBERNIAN have rejected a second bid of around £200,000 from Colchester United for Rob Jones, and manager Mixu Paatelainen insists the club has no intention of selling their skipper during this transfer window.

"We are certainly not interested in off-loading our captain at this stage," said Paatelainen, who has watched central defender Jones return to top form, scoring four goals in the past ten games.

Coca-Cola League One side Colchester, now managed by former Celtic and Scotland midfielder Paul Lambert, upset the Easter Road board earlier this month when they publicised their first move for the 29-year-old defender, despite having had their reported offer of 100,000 turned down.

Lambert returned with an increased bid, but a Hibs spokesman said yesterday: "Hibs have categorically rejected the second offer from Colchester."

Jones, who scored in the 3-1 defeat by Celtic at Parkhead on Saturday, has 18 months left on his contract at Easter Road but will look to finish his career south of the border.

The former Grimsby Town player, who lifted the CIS Cup at Hampden in his first season with Hibs, has also been linked with Sheffield United, Bristol City, Nottingham Forest and Leicester, but Hibs appear determined to retain his services.

Meanwhile, Hibs' new Hungarian signing Denes Rosa is looking forward to getting a further chance to impress against Motherwell at Easter Road on Saturday, having caught the eye as a late substitute in the defeat at Celtic Park last weekend.

Former Wolves midfielder Rosa thundered a 30-yard shot against Artur Boruc's right-hand post, and impressed with his control and touch, and he believes he has plenty to offer.

"I was happy to get on and it would have been nice to score. It wasn't to be, but maybe this week," said the 31-year-old, who clinched a short-term contract with the club after spending two weeks on trial this month.

"I've been very impressed by everyone at Hibs; I enjoyed the couple of weeks I had here before I joined the club."

Rosa, who used to play under Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo at Ferencvaros and scored the winner for the Hungarian side when they beat Hearts 1-0 at Murrayfield in December 2004, found himself frozen out at Wolves when Glenn Hoddle moved on, and his only respite was a brief loan spell at Cheltenham Town.

"For some time now I've not been playing in big games and that is what I am looking forward to doing," he added. "I know I have to work hard to get into the team, but it is always good to have a fight for a position in the team."