REPORT: Hibs walk away from Ojo deal – but the midfielder is still set for imminent exit

Scunthorpe midfielder Funso Ojo has seen his move to Scottish Premiership side Hibernian fall through amid a contract dispute with the Iron.

The news about Ojo’s discontent was revealed on Thursday evening, when the player and his representatives spoke to BBC Humberside:

EXCLUSIVE: we understand Funso Ojo’s absence from the start of Scunthorpe United’s pre-season training is due to a contract dispute between the player and the club. #uti #Iron (1/4)

— BBC Humberside Sport (@HumbersideSport) June 27, 2019

However, it’s understood Scunthorpe United are adamant that Ojo didn’t trigger the release clause and remains contracted to them. #uti #Iron (3/4)

— BBC Humberside Sport (@HumbersideSport) June 27, 2019

It had been widely expected that Ojo would leave Glanford Park this summer, after the club’s relegation to League Two – a relegation you could have made a lot of money on if you had used a sports interaction refer-a-friend code to back the outcome.

The Belgian has been regarded as one of the best players League One had to offer on his day during the last two years.

But with Ojo under contract for another year, the Iron feel that should he leave, they should be entitled to a fee – but this is disputer by the midfielder’s agent, who believe they had activated a release clause before May 31, meaning he was entitled to leave on a free.

The 27-year-old has so far refused to train with the first-team squad amid the dispute, a move that will do him no favours whilst new boss Paul Hurst casts his eyes over his new squad.

The Scottish Sun are reporting that Hibs have now pulled the plug on the deal, after finding out that the move would not go through as a simple free transfer.

Hibs manager Paul Heckingbottom had targeted Ojo as he looks to bring in a defensive midfielder to bolster his Easter Road squad.

The view of Any Old Iron is that Ojo is under contract with the Iron, and therefore should any club wish to take him from us, pay up.

We do not want Ojo to stay at the club, the same as it would be for any player trying to push through a move away.

However, that’s not to say we are not appreciative of the talent and class that Ojo brought to the Scunthorpe midfield during his time here – but in particular during his first year in North Lincolnshire, when United missed out on promotion in the League One play offs.

Although a move to Hibs may have fallen through, Any Old Iron understand that Ojo has other interested parties, and once the contract situation is resolved, he will be on the move.

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