Jones is a powerful presence at the heart of Hibs' defence

Hibernian intend to report Colchester United to the Football League and to the English Football Association over their pursuit of defender Rob Jones.

Hibs rejected a �100,000 bid for their captain by the English League One club on Tuesday.

But the Edinburgh side are unhappy that Colchester made public details of a fax they considered confidential.

The Essex club targeted the 29-year-old after Wycombe Wanderers rejected an offer for Mike Williamson.

Jones joined Hibs from Grimsby in the summer of 2006, winning the League Cup in his first season.

The player is contracted at Easter Road until 2010 and was a transfer target for Leeds United and Ipswich in 2007.

Hibernian took the unusual step of making a statement on their website about Colchester's offer for the Englishman.

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"Hibernian can confirm receipt of a fax from Steve Bradshaw, chief executive of Colchester United FC addressed to chairman Rod Petrie under a heading 'Confidential Fax Transmission'," the statement said.

"The fax contained an offer of �100,000 for the immediate transfer of Hibernian club captain Rob Jones.

"The offer was rejected by return. The manager advised the player of the offer and the fact it had been rejected.

"Given the 'confidential' marking of the incoming fax it was a surprise to learn that Colchester United had subsequently posted a picture of the Hibernian player on its website along with a story stating that a 'six figure' bid had been lodged for the player.

"The story fails to mention that the offer was immediately rejected.

"The story also appeared on the Colchester United website the day after another story about a 'six figure bid' for the centre half of another club was posted on the same website."

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