Hearts hold talks to sign Lee Miller

HEARTS chief executive Phil Anderton was today holding crunch talks with star striker Lee Miller as the club attempts to finally clinch his signature on a permanent contract.

It is understood the player’s representative was in the Capital to discuss personal terms for the 22-year-old, who has been a smash hit since his loan move from Bristol City in January.

The clubs have been involved in protracted negotiations over a transfer fee for the former Falkirk front man, who has bagged 11 goals in 22 matches since being lured north by former Hearts boss John Robertson.

Hearts announced yesterday that those talks had been successful with City having agreed to a fee of £225,000 plus various add-ons "in relation to appearances and goals and European qualification". Miller is understood to be on around £1800 a week at Ashton Gate and Anderton is determined to thrash out a package with the player’s agent Mark Donaghy which will give Hearts value for money.

Aberdeen boss Jimmy Calderwood made a serious bid to snare Miller over the past week and the picture has become somewhat clouded by Bristol also reaching an agreement with the Dons on a transfer price. The ball appears to be firmly in Miller’s court, though, his form for Hearts having propelled him into Walter Smith’s Scotland squad for the World Cup qualifying double header against Moldova and Belarus.

It is understood Donaghy is set to meet with Aberdeen officials tomorrow - just 48 hours before the teams clash in the final game of the season at Pittodrie - to determine their salary proposals.

A Hearts spokesperson said: "The club is now negotiating with the player and his agent in an effort to agree personal terms and bring Lee to Tynecastle on a permanent basis as soon as possible."

Miller, who turned 22 yesterday, still has a year of his current deal to run at Bristol, but has never hidden his desire to remain in Scotland and he has admitted he owes a debt of gratitude to Hearts and Robertson for giving him the opportunity to kick-start his career in the SPL.

Stand-in boss John McGlynn, meanwhile, today thanked departing quartet Tepi Moilanen, Phil Stamp, Kevin McKenna and Ramon Pereira for their services to the club. The four players have not been offered new contracts for next season and McGlynn said: "They all leave Hearts with our best wishes for the future."

Taken from the Scotsman