Calderwood stresses need for Miller

JIMMY Calderwood's inability to bring in a proven goalscorer to compliment Darren Mackie was the major reason why Hibs took the remaining European place, but Hearts still want to dash the Aberdeen manager's hopes that Lee Miller will be the answer to those problems.

Both clubs agreed a fee with Bristol City for the striker who failed to settle in the West Country, but the Tynecastle side withdrew their offer last Thursday, clearing the way for their Pittodrie counterparts.

Initial discussions with the player's agent have taken place, and Aberdeen officials are expected to discuss the matter soon in an attempt to close out the deal.

Despite that, Hearts stand-in manager John McGlynn made it clear after yesterday's defeat that he for one was hopeful of rekindling their interest in someone who scored 11 goals in 23 games while on loan.

He said: "Lee Miller didn't have his best game but perhaps what's going on played on his mind. I don't know what the current situation is but I'd like to think Hearts are still in with a chance of getting him signed."

McGlynn admits that a defeat which means they have lost six and drawn two of their last eight games is a reflection of the traumas the club has suffered on and off the park since the season got under way last August.

"It has been a long season," he added. "We've played European games and got to the semi-finals of both cups and I think it has taken its toll on our young team. We knew Aberdeen would come at us from the start and be very attacking, Jimmy has told everyone that all week.

"We were determined to make sure we didn't concede in the first 15 to 20 minutes and I was pleased with the way we held them, but it was a sloppy goal to lose."

Calderwood, who is still interested in signing Kilmarnock's Kris Boyd and Steve Lovell of relegated Dundee, accepts where the problems lie, as they had enough chances to increase the pressure on Hearts and Hibs. But considering the level of improvement in the year since he took over, with the club going from 11th to fourth after gathering more points than they have for a decade, he was as sanguine as he ever gets at the end.

Calderwood said: "We said we would have a go at them and we did, but we just didn't take our chances. It was always going to be a long-shot. We knew all along that we needed a prolific striker and I'm confident that if I can get the players I want in then we'll improve even more next season.

"The players' attitude has been spot on and I think the fans appreciate that. The send-off they got at the end was magnificent considering we didn't win anything, and it was fully deserved.

"Hearts wasted so much time I started to think we were playing a European tie, but how they approach a game is up to them. A few people suggested they would name a young team and wouldn't try, but the way they played proved that was nonsense.

"Craig Gordon made some magnificent saves and on another day we would've scored more, but it wasn't to be.

I was chuffed for Richie Byrne to get his goal and thought his performance today was his best at Pittodrie. He'll go on to be a big player for the team next season."

Taken from the Scotsman