Hearts' target Burley rejects Millwall approach

GEORGE Burley, one of the leading candidates for the vacant manager's post at Hearts, has turned down the chance to take over at Millwall. "George's advisor told us George was thankful for the interest, but has decided that this is not the challenge for him at the present time," said a spokesman for the London club.

The former Scotland player, who quit as Derby County boss last week, had been regarded in some quarters as the favourite to take over at the New Den. That never seemed wholly plausible, however, as Millwall are going through the sort of cost-cutting process which made Burley fall out with his directors at Pride Park.

Derby have themselves been linked with Billy Davies, like Burley one of the men in line to take over at Tynecastle. They have also, however, received permission from Yeovil Town to speak to Gary Johnson, the former manager of the Latvian international team who was erroneously linked to the Hearts job when John Robertson was still in office.

The Edinburgh club are still awaiting a reply from Nevio Scala, the former Parma manager who was interviewed by the chief executive Phil Anderton in London on Sunday. Paul Hartley, the Hearts midfielder, said yesterday that the uncertainty was unsettling the players, but admitted that if the job were to go to a man of the stature of Scala or Lothar Matthaus - who has also expressed an interest - he would be more likely to extend his stay at the club.

"I would have to consider things, see what the club's plans are and how much they want to keep me at Hearts," said the midfielder, who has a year of his current contract to run, but recently turned down the offer of a 12-month extension.

"I think Scala or Matthaus would be fantastic.

Matthaus has done it as a player and has won World Cups, while Scala has managed at the highest level in Italy.

"I don't think it was the right time to sign a new contract. I will take my time over the summer and see what happens with the manager's situation."

Taken from the Scotsman