U's boss still wants Hibs' Jones

Jones scored against Celtic on Saturday

Colchester United's manager Paul Lambert is refusing to give up in his efforts to prise defender Rob Jones from Hibernian.

Lambert had a second offer in excess of £100,000 rebuffed on Tuesday for the 29-year-old Hibs captain.

"The latest offer was substantially improved, but Hibs said they were not acceptable," Lambert told BBC Scotland.

"I'll speak to my chairman and see what happens, but our interest in Rob is not dead. He is their best player."

The English League One side had a £100,000 bid for the defender refused earlier in the transfer window.

Their latest bid involved a similar amount to that up front, along with additional future payments.

However, the Scottish Premier League club still maintain that the offer from Colchester falls short of their valuation of their captain.

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Lambert joked to BBC Essex: "I think Hibs want about £20m for him, so we'll get to about 19 and hopefully he'll do it."

Colchester assistant manager Ian Culverhouse had told BBC Essex they were looking to strengthen the squad in some areas.

"Paul's spoken to a lot of people and, although things have been a bit a slow, we are hopeful that, in the next couple of weeks, it will come out," he said.

Culverhouse suggested other club's reluctance to sell during the current January transfer window was making progress slow going.

"The chairman wants to back us as much as he can, but he isn't going to pay silly money for people, that's for sure," he explained.

"The manager has recognised where we need strengthening and bids have been put in, but the clubs at the moment are not forthcoming."