World of difference
Stubbs insists his bid to quit Bolton was nothing like Allan’s
ALAN STUBBS insists his regard for Scott Allan has not been diminished by the midfielder submitting a transfer request — as he once did the same to try to quit Bolton.
The Hibs manager is adamant, however, that there are fundamental differences between his situation in 1995, which eventually led to a move to Celtic, and Allan’s current desire to join Rangers.
The Easter Road club are standing firm in the saga, although chief executive Leeann Dempster yesterday declined an opportunity to deny claims from Allan’s camp about a past verbal agreement not to stand in his way of moving to a bigger club.
Allan (below) made his transfer request on Tuesday, prompting a statement from Hibs again underlining that the playmaker would not be sold to Ibrox, following two bids reaching £225,000.
Some Rangers fans have pointed fingers at Stubbs over his own actions 20 years ago. Then a highlyrated centre-half, he saw a request to leave Bolton for a ‘top club’ turned down. He duly saw out the season in Lancashire before making a £4million move to Parkhead.
Stubbs can empathise with Allan but insists the fact Rangers are currently chief promotion rivals to Hibs means firm comparisons cannot be made.
‘I understand it,’ he said of the transfer request. ‘I can’t not understand because it would make me look stupid. I have been in his shoes before.
‘I completely understand how he is getting advised. The transfer request doesn’t change our position as a club. We will not do business with Rangers. I don’t know how clear I have to be.
‘Of course I can appreciate where he is. But there were different circumstances.
‘How? Because I wasn’t going to our nearest rivals. And I went for £4m. That’s how it’s different.
‘You learn from situations. I’m dealing with Scotty better than I was dealt with. I can tell you that.
‘The transfer request is not a personal indictment on me. It’s just Scott doing what he is getting told to do and what he feels he can do to push the move.
‘But it’s irrelevant. It’s not going to change. I will not fall out with Scott Allan. I will not lose any respect for him whatsoever. As far as I’m concerned, he is still a vital member of my squad.’
Asked about the claims of a verbal agreement over Allan’s future when he first signed last year, Stubbs — who this week agreed a contract extension until 2017 — replied: ‘I wasn’t involved in that discussion. I can’t comment on something if I wasn’t there.
‘There have been a lot of things coming out in the Press, but I don’t know where they have come from.
‘The club has dealt with this situation fantastically well, with the utmost respect and a lot of dignity.
‘If I would have promised him, it would have been in writing. I would advise any player to never have a verbal agreement with anybody.’ The same query was put to Dempster, who said: ‘I would never discuss the content of a player contract or the discussions around a player contract, so I won’t confirm or deny any of that.’
Both Stubbs and Dempster were unequivocal in their condemnation of the vile Twitter abuse directed at Allan in the wake of his transfer request. ‘ There i s no place for that in society, never mind f ootball,’ said Stubbs. ‘Whoever has done it, I hope they are dealt with by the firmest fist and the letter of the law.’
Former Rangers director Gordon Smith also waded into the Allan debate yesterday by insisting the player has ‘let himself down’ during the saga.
‘I understand footballers have short careers and you need to try to make the most of it, but there was no need to officially hand in a transfer request,’ said the ex-SFA chief executive.
‘All he has done is declare publicly to the supporters that he doesn’t want to be at the club. That’s not going to help the situation.
‘If I was his agent, I’d be advising him that if the club isn’t going to sell him, then he is going to cause problems for himself by making it clear he wants to go.
‘I think Hibs should do everything in their power to keep him — and I think they will. Whether the price is right or not, they are dealing with one of their main league rivals.
‘ He could end up being the difference between Hibs winning the league or not winning the l eague. He’s so good and so important to how they play.’
Meanwhile, Hibs have agreed a six-figure compensation fee with St Mirren for out- of- contract midfielder John McGinn, who will sign subject to a medical.
Stubbs dismissed any suggestion the Scotland Under-21 cap had been lined up as Allan’s replacement, stating instead that it was a signal of intent in terms of a promotion push.
‘It tells you which way the club is going as he will be a fantastic signing for us. He is one of Scotland’s brightest talents and it’s a real coup for the club.
‘There was a lot of interest from Scottish Premiership teams and from America and England.’