Robbo targets new faces

MARK BONTHRONE

HEARTS boss John Robertson’s bid to bring new faces into the club over the January transfer window was continuing today as he revealed he has made enquiries for several players.

The Jambos have already lost the services of Alan Maybury and Mark de Vries to Leicester City and although four Lithuanian players have been given deals until the end of the season Robertson is keen to bolster his squad further. It was reported today that the Gorgie club have launched a £60,000 bid to secure Livingston stars Burton O’Brien and David McNamee who are out of contract at the end of the season before the window slams shut.

Lions boss Richard Gough has already publicly stated that if the duo intend to leave he would prefer them to do so now so the club can demand a fee rather than lose them in the summer for nothing.

And while Robertson refused to name his signing targets he did confirm he has made contact with a number of clubs.

"We have made enquiries about a few players but it takes time," said the Hearts legend.

"We are looking to strengthen our squad where we can and hopefully we will be successful in bringing in a couple of new faces."

Another player the Jambos have been linked with is Airdrie United striker Alan Gow.

And while Robertson wouldn’t say whether the hitman was a player he is monitoring, he rubbished claims over the weekend that he had tabled a £100,000 bid to land him.

"I can categorically say we have not made a £100,000 bid for Alan Gow as has been reported. We simply don’t have that kind of money to spend."

Meanwhile, Robertson has praised his players for putting the club’s off-field problems to the back of their mind to secure three vital points against Dundee United at Tynecastle on Saturday.

The loss of Maybury and De Vries has left the Jambos with a small playing squad while Vladimir Romanov’s protracted buy-out of chief executive Chris Robinson’s shares has also had an unsettling effect.

And Robertson was delighted that his players cast all that aside to battle out a 3-2 victory over Ian McCall’s struggling side.

"I think the off-field problems are always just underneath the surface so the players did well to try and put those to the back of their minds as we have a lot of important games coming up," he said.

"It was an important win. We have slipped in recent weeks with a number of draws so it was pleasing to pick up three points.

"Some other results went our way as well but we really just have to concentrate on our own game.

"We have been working hard for a break in recent weeks without getting one but on Saturday we did.

"We have been tinkering with the style and formation in recent weeks trying to get things right and although we didn’t play very well in the first half the players showed a lot of resolve to get back into the game and then go on and win it."

Taken from the Scotsman