Kilmarnock boss Jim Jefferies insists only a "massive offer" will tempt him to part with Colin Nish when the January transfer window opens.The 26-year-old former Dunfermline striker, whose contract is up at the end of the season, scored one and made another against Hibernian at Rugby Park which gave Kilmarnock just their second SPL win in the last 14 games.

But Jefferies, who has lost Kris Boyd and Steven Naismith in recent seasons, will not be forced into a cheap January sale of Nish to replenish the cash-strapped Ayrshire club.

Jefferies said: "He says he wants to stay so we are hopeful but I am very restricted in what I can offer.

"It's just one of those things, if he gets an offer that I can't match then I will lose him.

"Time will tell but it certainly won't happen unless we get a massive offer in terms of cash.

"I will be keeping him until the end of the season and then he will be free to go.

"It shows you how hard a job it is here because then you have to find people for the budgets you have.

"Sometimes when you improve them and they do well, they are targets for others and it's very frustrating.

"He will have an agent collecting offers for him and the funny thing is it will be clubs that are a similar level to ourselves who can offer him a few hundred quid more than I can.

"But sometimes for a few hundred quid, you are better staying where you enjoy playing."

Nish played his cards close to his chest, saying: "I've not really got any thoughts on it.

"I like it here and I want to stay but I will need to wait and see.

"I am trying to concentrate on my football and not speak to anybody about that.

"There is a (new) Kilmarnock contract on the table and I have still to decide what I want to do.

"I'm 26 now and it's quite a big decision and so I will take my time to decide.

"I will just keep my head down and work."

Goals from Nish and Mehdi Taouil looked to have put the home side in easy street but they were left hanging on when they conceded a last-minute penalty.

Hibernian half-time substitute Dean Shiels, on for Patrick Noubissie, scored the spot-kick after he was brought down by Killie 'keeper Alan Combe but the home side held on for three welcome points.

Jefferies was "well pleased" with the effort and performance but admitted his side were under pressure in the closing stages.

"I think it would have been harsh had we not won," he said.

Hibernian's stand-in boss Tommy Craig, who batted away the question of whether he would like to replace John Collins who departed last week, insists the Easter Road side can still finish in third place this season.

The Leith men have won only one of their last 10 SPL games but remain in fifth place.

Craig said: "I am taking the Old Firm out of the equation but there are seven or eight guys who are in the same position, who are dealing with the same problem and that is the nature of the beast at the moment.

"Without sounding defeatist, I would like to think Hibs could finish top of their pack.

"That is the situation we have and it shows how good a run we had at the beginning of the season when we took 21 out of 27 points."

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