Mark Brown says careful consideration needed over Anthony Stokes transfer affair

SPECULATION is often accompanied by knee-jerk reaction. But, with Anthony Stokes the subject of a bid from Celtic, Hibs goalkeeper Mark Brown says now is actually a time for careful consideration.

If the club's top scorer from last season is allowed to leave some fans will condemn the decision, they will expect the cash to be splashed to snare a suitable replacement and manager John Hughes will exert pressure to add personnel to a depleted forward line. But while Brown would prefer to see Stokes stay he says he can understand the importance of looking after the finances better than most.

"I think it's case of leaving us a striker short and we would probably need someone in to cover. The manager has his own ideas on how he needs to strengthen the squad and it's up to him. If one did leave we would probably need one in just to make up the squad numbers. But the club has to run itself well. I was at Motherwell when they went into administration and I know all about clubs spending more money than they've got. If you can get a couple of players in it would be good but it depends on finances with the budget because it was horrendous at Motherwell."

Preparing for this afternoon's match against St Mirren, Hughes says he is still hopeful of retaining Stokes but admits with the clock ticking down, the transfer window makes it difficult for teams in Hibs' position.

"I don't think there should be a transfer window. Everybody wants to spin their plates and that's part of parcel of what management is."

He expects to get the best out of all his players today, including Stokes. "I don't think we'd have a problem with him. I had to split him up in training this morning as he was going fisticuffs with another player because the desire is there. He was scoring goals, tackling, determined and he has a look in his eye, he's not going to put the tools away."

As Hibs try to hold on to one of their best players, St Mirren have been trying to bed in some new ones and captain John Potter has watched with amusement and, gradually, admiration, as Darren McGregor, Gareth Wardlaw, Paul McQuade and Peter Bradley have discovered the difference between part-time and full-time football.

The quartet have gone from holding down day jobs and training on Tuesdays with Cowdenbeath to coping with the demands of working in Scotland's top tier.

"They've stepped up, no problem at all," Potter said. "Initially, they maybe found training quite tiring. A lot of people think full-time football is a piece of cake but it's not."

Lennon concedes that not all of his former players are fully up to speed with the demands.

"When Gareth Wardlaw first came in he was on his knees every morning for a fortnight but he's working very hard.Paul McQuade has missed a few sessions and he has to accept that - while he has wonderful ability - it's coming here and seeing how professional footballers live that should make a difference."