Levein issues deal warning

HEARTS boss Craig Levein today revealed that he will not be able to offer new deals to all the players whose contracts run out in the summer.

First-team men Thomas Flogel, Robert Tomaschek, Tommi Gronlund, Steve Fulton and Stephane Adam all see their current agreements expire at the end of the season, with the extended loan of Ricardo Fuller also coming to an end in May.

Levein has opened initial talks with some of the players in question, although exact figures have yet to be discussed. The Tynecastle boss has stated he will have to wait until he knows what his budget is for next season before deciding on how much he can afford to spend on new contracts, but he has made it clear he will not have bags of money to throw about.

He has already spoken to Fulton and Flogel, the pair indicating they want to stay at the club.

And he will sit down with the others over the course of the next few weeks to discuss the situation.

However, he has revealed for the first time that he doubts if he can retain the services of all six individuals.

"I have said before that the money we get from any TV sponsorship deal is key to things," he said. "My budget will be solely dictated by the money brought in.

"There are five or six guys out of contract in the summer. I have spoken to a few of the players and told them I want them to stay.

"Whether that happens or not I don’t know. I have told them that just because they want to stay here and I want them to stay, it doesn’t necessarily mean it will happen.

"Once I know what my budget is I’ll then have some tough decisions to make."

Those out of contract in the summer and available under the Bosman ruling are now free to talk to clubs outwith Scotland.

However, that situation does not unduly concern Levein.

He added: "I am aware that the players are now free to talk to other clubs but I don’t think we are any different from any other clubs in Scotland in that respect.

"But my job here is to create a team that people want to play in. There may be more money out there but hopefully the guys we’ve got at Tynecastle want to play here.

"Contract talks midway through the season are now part and parcel of the game here and the situation is something that will unfold in the fullness of time.

"The players have to be realistic. There will be no bluffing in the negotiations. It will be a case of: ‘this is what we can afford, take it or leave it’.

"It is a difficult period for the players and the club in as much as we don’t yet know exactly how much money there is to spend.

"They are all prepared to wait but once I have those numbers it will mean difficult decisions being made. Ideally, I would like to keep everybody but it is likely financially that I won’t be able to do that.

"It is a case just now of waiting and seeing what develops."

There has been encouraging news on the injury front for Levein ahead of Saturday’s clash with Livingston at Almondvale.

Alan Maybury will be fit to face the Lions despite requiring stitches in a foot wound suffered in the win over Aberdeen.

Levein is also keeping his fingers crossed that Stephane Mahe will be available, the Frenchman having picked up a dead leg late in the game against the Dons.

"I am hopeful of having Stephane fit although we have to be careful with him as his style of play is such that he doesn’t hold back," he said.

Scott Severin has played a full part in this week’s training and is under consideration for his first start since October with Kevin McKenna away on international duty, Canada kicking off their defence of the Gold Cup against Haiti in Miami tomorrow.

Taken from the Scotsman