Forest And Hibs Do Battle For Calderwood

It's an open secret now, that Forest boss Steve McClaren wants Hibernian manager Colin Calderwood as part of his newly assembled backroom staff at the City Ground. However, Hibs chairman Rod Petrie is refusing to make it an easy transition, if the former Forest boss wants to return to the club that sacked him almost 3 years ago.

In an official statement on the Hibernian FC website, Petrie said. 'Hibernian wants Colin Calderwood as its manager. Hibernian has Colin Calderwood as its Manager. Nottingham Forest knows that their only official approach to Hibernian - a phone call on Friday 24 June - was rejected. There is nothing to negotiate. They do not have permission to speak to the Hibernian Manager. No club has permission to speak to the Hibernian manager.'

In stark contrast to the statement made by the Hibs chairman this morning, Forest boss Steve McClaren had one of his own to make in today's edition of the Evening Post. McClaren says. 'We are trying to get Colin out of Hibs and it is very difficult. He wants to come here and it is the only place he wants to come. There is a lot of competition for Colin but there is a willingness on our side to do it and we want to do it. We have to be patient and hope that Hibs will talk, negotiate and get Colin where he wants to go.'

It's rumoured that Calderwood has a £1m compensation clause in his contract and Hibernian will want as much of that as they can get. It's also rumoured that Birmingham City, who were also in the hunt for Calderwood, had an offer of £300,000 for the manager turned down. It looks as though Forest will have to offer a little more than Brum, if they really are serious about getting their man.



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