Hartley snubs Hearts offer

MIDFIELDER Paul Hartley has rejected a new two-year deal with Hearts, the Evening News can reveal.

The offer, which the club insist would have seen the Scotland star benefit from a "significant" hike in wages, would have seen the 28-year-old commit himself to Tynecastle until the summer of 2007. However, Hartley, who still has 12 months to run on his current agreement, has snubbed the new contract.

"We offered Paul what we thought was a good deal which would have seen him extend his contract by another year," said chief executive Phil Anderton.

"However his agent has informed us that he is not interested in signing it at this stage."

Hartley's rejection will heighten fears among supporters that they could now lose last season's top scorer, the midfield dynamo having smashed 15 goals as the Jambos battled in vain to finish third in the SPL for the third year running.

The development will also alert new Celtic boss Gordon Strachan, who is understood to have discussed the merits of Hartley with Martin O'Neill before the Irishman quit the Parkhead hot seat last month.

The Glasgow giants were unsuccessful with a £300,000 bid for the player in January, their interest prompting Celtic fan Hartley to hand in a transfer request. Hearts dismissed the Hoops' offer, slapping a £1million price tag on the midfielder's head in a move which appeared to strengthen Hartley's position for negotiating a new deal.

In a similar scenario to the Derek Riordan situation facing city rivals Hibs, the club may now look to cash in on one of their prize assets rather than see him leave for nothing next summer.

However, Anderton today insisted that was not the case and that the Gorgie outfit is in under no pressure to offload the player whose career has blossomed since former manager Craig Levein signed him two years ago.

He said: "We are in no rush to sell Paul and have him for another year. As he showed after the interest from Celtic he is a committed and professional player and that is what we expect from him next season."

Anderton is currently hunting for a new manager after Sir Bobby Robson turned down the club's offer to succeed John Robertson and the chief executive indicated the arrival of a new manager could see further developments on the Hartley front.

"Paul has shown he is a quality footballer and I wouldn't rule out another contract offer at some stage in the future," he said.

Hartley's form this season saw him force his way into new Scotland boss Walter Smith's plans, the midfield star making his debut for his country in the World Cup qualifier against Italy in the San Siro in March.

He made his international bow at Hampden Park in Saturday's 2-0 victory over Moldova but a second yellow card in as many matches ruled him out of last night's goalless draw in Belarus.

The ongoing search for a new boss, meanwhile, is to be put on the back burner until next week when Anderton will restart the process of meeting candidates.

George Burley, though, remains firmly in the frame after his surprise exit from Derby County on Tuesday.

Taken from the Scotsman