TRIO IN TUSSLE TO HOOK HATELEY

PARTICK THISTLE, Dundee and Hibernian are locked in a three-way fight for former Motherwell defender Tom Hateley. The 26-year-old played for four seasons at Fir Park before moving to Tranmere Rovers. Now a free agent after being released by Polish club Slask Wroclaw, the player has held discussions with each of the sides ahead of deciding upon his next port of call. Jags boss Alan Archibald has lost Stuart Bannigan to a long-term injury and hopes the fact he was able to offer Hateley his preferred midfield berth might swing the deal in his side’s favour. ‘I met Tom for a brief chat the other day and that’s as far as it has gone,’ he said. ‘I believe he has a number of options, we’re aware of that. ‘We’ve sold our side of the club to him and hopefully that will be enough. The club is in Glasgow, we play good football and we’re a shop window. ‘We can’t always compete financially, so we just try to sell every aspect of the club that we can and see where that takes us. ‘I don’t see him as a right-back and that may work in our favour. I had a chat with him when I tried to sign him two years ago so I’m aware of his strengths and I know he can play there. ‘But we’ve got Ziggy Gordon at right-back and we’ve got Christie Elliott who can play there as well. ‘We really need cover in the middle of the pitch, as you can see this week with Sean Welsh missing.’ Dundee boss Paul Hartley has also made his pitch to the player and believes he’d be a huge asset to his side. ‘We have made him an offer but we’re just waiting to hear back,’ said Hartley. ‘Hopefully we can hear in the next 24 to 48 hours where we’re at with Tom.’ Although Hibs can’t yet offer the player Premiership football, Easter Road boss Neil Lennon is hopeful the player will yet agree to help his side win promotion at the third time of asking. ‘We spoke with Tom and his father Mark and we had a good chat,’ explained Lennon. ‘We knew there were other clubs interested and it is his prerogative to keep his options open. He is one we have shown an interest in. That’s maybe it. ‘There is maybe one position that we still need to fill to give us more depth but I am pretty happy with the strength of squad we have at the minute.’