Hibs: Second Jones Bid 'categorically' rejected

Colchester United`s second bid for Hibernian centre-half Rob Jones has been rejected amid reported interest from Sheffield United, Bristol City, Nottingham Forest and Leicester.

Today`s Scotsman reports that the in-form giant defender Jones finds the interest in him flattering and would be willing to consider his options before the transfer window shuts on Monday night.

He is known, according to the report, to want to return to England, but the former Grimsby and Celtic man valued at much higher than the reported in-excess bid £200,000 Colchester have made.

In a recent interview, Jones said of the speculation: "People are not going to get interested if you are not doing well and not doing the right things, it shows you are doing the job properly. But there is not a lot I can do about people speculating, that's someone else's prerogative, isn't it?"

Sky Sports this evening then reported that the renewed bib, of more than double the first, had also been turned down. They quote a club spokesman as saying: "Hibs have categorically rejected the second offer from Colchester."

It remains to be seen how far the U`s are willing to go to secure his signature, although they may face completion from bigger clubs for the 29-year-old.

Colchester are still awaiting the FA verdict on their conduct over the first bid, which saw the Essex side reported to the Football Association by Hibs after they made the offer public on their official website.

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