David Murphy has been at Easter Road for three years

Reports at the weekend claimed that Murphy could sign for West Brom in a �500,000 transfer.

"I honestly do not know where that is coming from, but I do know it's simply not true," said Collins.

"There is no agreement on David Murphy and he is working exceptionally hard alongside the rest of the squad."

Baggies manager Tony Mowbray brought 23-year-old Murphy to Easter Road from Middlesbrough three years ago.

But Collins said: "We expect stories like this to come out at this time of the year in particular and there is not much we can do about speculation other than assure our own supporters that our focus is on having the strongest possible squad ready for the new season.

"We had a good season last year winning one trophy, and our aim is repeat that or better this year."

I don't feel I need explain away a defeat in a game of this nature John Collins

Hibs lost 3-2 to Austrian second division outfit RFE Vocklabruck on Sunday.

But Collins was pleased with the way his new signings settled in, with goalkeeper Yves Ma-Kalambay impressing in a position that has been a problem for Hibs.

"I don't feel I need explain away a defeat in a game of this nature," he told Hibs' website.

"We learned a great deal about how the players are shaping up and we are very satisfied with progress in that regard.

"Yves had no chance with any of the goals. They were three great strikes.

"He remained confident throughout the game and it was great to see a goalkeeper come out and collect a cross as confidently as he did several times.

"We were looking for Alan O'Brien to demonstrate his pace and put it to good use and he did just that with a couple of excellent deliveries on the end of it.

"Brian Kerr also looked confident on the ball in his 45 minutes, linking well with Guillaume Beuzelin, while Torben Joneleit looked was strong and confident at the back and showed another side to his game, putting his head in bravely to score his goal.

"Clayton Donaldson came on for the second half and was in and about their defence causing them a few problems with his pace."

Meanwhile, Collins also ran the rule over Thierry Gathuessi, a 25-year-old defender with French Third Division outfit Sete, and an unnamed striker against Vocklabruck.

Right-back Gathuessi, from Cameroon, was previously with Montpellier and Cannes.