NICKY HAMMOND, Celtic’s head of football operations, watched Hibs beat Hamilton Accies at Easter Road last night.
The Hoops’ spy supremo was reported to be running the rule over the Edinburgh side’s Australian winger Martin Boyle.
Neil Lennon is known to be an admirer of the player after their three-year spell together at the Edinburgh club.
Current gaffer Jack Ross, though, has no intention of allowing Boyle, who set up both goals in a comeback victory over Accies, to leave for the champions.
The Hibs chief is adamant the wideman will still be at the club when the transfer window shuts a week tomorrow.
Ross, speaking to the Daily Record, insisted: “I’ve said before, he’s a better player than some people have given him credit for.
“He’s got a lot more than pace – his intelligence is really good and he contributed towards the two goals.
“At the second goal, he stood it up rather than flashed it across, but it shows he’s a player in a good place. He’s the last person I’d like to lose from this club.
“I’ve had it with players before – they’re players who get results and you enjoy watching them then people take them off you.
“But I’m not bothered with others watching him because it means he’s playing well for me.”
Lennon has already brought in £3.5million Polish striker Patryk Klimala, who was an unsused substitute in the team’s 3-1 win at Kilmarnock, and £2million Ivorian midfielder Ismaila Soro is due to complete his switch after the paperwork is taken care of.
