Martin Boyle's Hibs answer raises more transfer questions but it doesn't have to be bad news – Tam McManus

Footballers can have a clever way of making what they don’t say speak louder than the actual words that do come tumbling out their mouths. Particularly during the madness of a transfer window.

And one example this week had me wondering if director of football Brian McDermott isn’t the only big exit from Hibs this summer. Could Martin Boyle’s Leith love affair be near to an end? That’s what Hibees are starting to wonder after Aussie media stirred the pot over his future.

Quizzed on whether a move to Australia could be on the cards he appeared to bat the question away saying “Listen, I’m still contracted with Hibs. We'll see what happens when I go back to the club.” Considering he’d already spoken of his desire to play Down Under before he retires then it was hardly a hard and fast no. Put it this way; if Martin wasn’t interested in heading to the A-League this summer then he’d have shut the question down right away. He’d not even have mentioned any more.

But he’s left the door open for someone to come in with an offer. It’s not exactly a ‘come and get me’ - but it does sound like a ‘I’m open to the idea if you are’.

Listen it doesn’t have to be bad news. It might be that a move would suit all parties. He has had a brilliant career in Scotland and has been absolutely sensational for Hibs for most of it.

But if he did want to go then why stand in his way? Hibs could get a big hitter off the wage bill, one of the top earners, to allow David Gray to bring fresh blood in then it might not be a bad move.

To be honest, I don’t think Martin has been hitting his previous heights for Hibs over the last season. He came back from that horrendous ACL injury and looks like he’s lost a yard of pace which, when you’re that quick, is