Bristol agree fees with Hearts and Aberdeen

THE Lee Miller saga took another twist last night when Bristol City agreed a fee for the on-loan striker with Hearts - then did exactly the same with Aberdeen.

With both Scottish clubs understood to have offered a basic fee of around £225,000 - which with add-ons could rise to £350,000 - Miller must now decide which offers the best opportunity for him to develop.

"Hearts firstly had their bid accepted, but Aberdeen came back to us and we’ve now accepted their offer as well," the Bristol City chairman, Steve Lansdown, said last night. "It all comes down to Lee discussing personal terms with these clubs because we are now satisfied with the fee from both clubs."

The estimated payment is more than double the amount that Hearts could have bought Miller for several months ago, but still represents decent value for a player who has flourished since returning to Scotland. Miller, who celebrated his 22nd birthday yesterday, is eager to stay north of the Border, but has steadfastly kept his options open in recent months.

While the striker may make his loan deal at Tynecastle permanent, two players will leave Hearts before Saturday’s last match of the season at Aberdeen. The centre-back-cum-striker Kevin McKenna and back-up goalkeeper Tepi Moilanen are both out of contract and are being released early.

McKenna is returning to Energie Cottbus, the club he left to join Hearts in March 2001. The 25-year-old Canadian, who has signed a two-year deal with the German side, will leave Edinburgh today.

"It’s tough," he said of the impending departure. "I’ve really enjoyed my time with Hearts and have made a lot of good friends here. The club has always been first class.

"I had a night out with a lot of the boys in Edinburgh on Tuesday night which gave me the chance to say goodbye. But it’s all part of the game and I’m looking forward to the challenge of playing in Germany again."

Cottbus need to win their final game to stay in the Second Division. Their head coach, Pat Sander, was third in command during McKenna’s first spell there. "We always got on well, and I’m looking forward to working with him again," the player added.

Moilanen, who has been an understudy to Craig Gordon for most of the past two seasons, is thought to have struck a deal with a team back in his native Finland. Hearts’ interim manager, John McGlynn, explained that rather than jeopardise that new deal the club had decided not to make him play either for the reserves against Dunfermline two days ago or for the first team at Pittodrie.

"He has a sore knee and did not want to play on the Astroturf," McGlynn told the club’s website, heartsfc.co.uk. "He obviously has something lined up. He does not want to pick up an injury, which you can understand.

"Tepi has been a model professional. It has been difficult being No2 to a young goalkeeper, but he has appreciated that the No1 goalkeeper has been very special."

Jamie McDonald and Milan Barjaktarevic are expected to battle it out to determine who becomes recognised as Gordon’s deputy.

• The final Edinburgh derby of the season takes place tonight at Easter Road when Hibs and Hearts play for the East of Scotland Shield. Hibs are the current holders, having won 3-1 at Tynecastle back in August. The match kicks off at 7pm.

Taken from the Scotsman