We can't afford Andrews, concede Hibs

IT IS "highly unlikely" Marvin Andrews will be moving from Rangers to Easter Road, Hibs manager Tony Mowbray said yesterday.

The 30-year-old Trinidad & Tobago defender has been linked with a switch to the Leith club after being told he will not feature in the plans of new Ibrox manager Paul Le Guen.

Andrews still has a year left on his deal in Glasgow, but Rangers are willing to let him leave on a free transfer, activating the interest of a number of clubs north and south of the border.

The devout Christian, who has defied medical advice to play through knee ligament trouble as a result of his faith healing practices, is already thought to have turned down English offers such is his desire to stay in Scotland and be near his Fife church.

Hibs, who still need to strengthen at the back after the summer exits of Gary Caldwell and Gary Smith, would seem an attractive option for the powerful and fearless performer. But Mowbray last night insisted wage demands are likely to scupper any possible deal for the former Raith Rovers and Livingston centre-half.

He said: "Think it through, Marvin Andrews is a boy who played for the Old Firm. In fact, I shouldn't really comment as he's not our player and not anybody's player other than Rangers. But I know he is many multiples out of our wage structure so let's forget about it. The boy is not out of contract, he's under contract so I would say that [a deal] is highly unlikely to happen."

Mowbray, meanwhile, has a goalkeeper problem to contend with ahead of tomorrow's SPL opener at home to Aberdeen.

With Polish goalkeeper Zibi Malkowski suspended, Simon Brown will start the match, but an inexperienced youngster will be on the bench. New Hungarian signing, 17-year-old David Grof, is set to be handed that role with Ally Brown injured and Andrew McNeil on international duty with Scotland Under-19s.

He said: "It will be either David or young Matthew Curtis on the bench. We'll wait and see."

Aberdeen have been boosted by the news that midfielder Chris Clark has signed a new two-year contract. The versatile 25-year-old made his debut for the Dons in February 2000 and has since gone on to make 166 appearances for the club.

Clark said: "The signing of the extension to my contract all came about really quickly, which is great, and it coincides with the start of a new season, which is also good news.

"I am looking forward to the season ahead and having my contract done quickly allows me to focus on doing well for the club."

Taken from the Scotsman