Nish says he wants to stay at Hibs

The 29-year-old hitman was given the green light by boss Colin Calderwood to pursue a possible transfer to Tianjin Teda during the January transfer window having rejected an earlier approach from another Chinese outfit, Chengdu Blades.

The Musselburgh-born star went as far as flying to Cyprus to train with Tianjin, managed by former Dutch ace Arie Haan, but, speaking for the first time about the proposal, Nish revealed he'd decided to stay put before he'd even stepped off the plane.

And although Calderwood has now brought in former Charlton Athletic striker Akpo Sodje, Nish, one of a large number of Hibs players who are out of contract at the end of the season, insisted his first choice would be to remain with the club he has supported all his life.

Signed by ex-Hibs manager Mixu Paatelainen three years ago, Nish, who cited "personal reasons" for deciding against heading for the Far East, said: "The manager was brilliant with me, he let me go because I wasn't going to be playing that weekend.

"I went out for a couple of days but by the time I came off the plane I'd decided it was not for me, I didn't really fancy it.

"It was something I'd thought about a couple of years ago, but things change in life and while it would have been an experience, I felt it wasn't right for me."

Although he didn't rule out the possibility of moving further afield, Nish joked: "There's abroad and then there's China." He insisted that like many of his team-mates facing an uncertain future his preference was to sign a new deal with Hibs. He said: "I read a few days ago Derek Riordan saying he wanted to stay and I believe others are the same. I don't think you'll find anyone in the dressing room that does not want to.

"Hibs are going through a transitional period, the new manager will want to build his own team."

Nish accepted that, as a Calderwood signing, Sodje had probably moved ahead of him in the pecking order, admitting: "I didn't feel I had been playing so well, Akpo has come in and done well but now I am concentrating on getting back to playing as I know I can."

While Nish waits with his fingers crossed that contract negotiations will soon get under way, team-mate Danny Galbraith was today celebrating a new two-and-a-half year deal which will tie him to the Edinburgh club until the summer of 2013.

Vowing to repay Calderwood's faith in him, the 20-year-old said: "I'm really delighted to have signed a new contract and I want to repay the manager and show the fans what I am capable of on a regular basis."

Meanwhile, defender Francis Dickoh as won his appeal against wrongful dismissal during last weekend's win over Kilmarnock, a decision which frees him to face St Mirren. Dickoh was red carded by referee Steve Conroy on the advice of his assistant Keith Sorbie.