New faces are sign of the times for Burley

BARRY ANDERSON

GORDON STRACHAN simply could not tolerate another week like the last one, but his former Scotland colleague and, if Vladimir Romanov is to be believed, prospective title rival, George Burley, is eager to re-enact his last seven days again starting Monday morning.

Of course, the week just ended at Tynecastle was in sharp contrast to that at Parkhead. Whilst goals were being shipped for fun to Artmedia Bratislava on the back of coach Tommy Burns' flawed assertion that Celtic "must not underestimate" the Slovakians, Burley was busy burrowing.

Two formidable new signings paraded last Monday and Wednesday, medicals passed and contracts agreed for another two in Michal Pospisil and Julien Brellier, and negotiations proceeding nicely on a handful of other playing options, some of whom could be in a Hearts shirt in time for the rather important arrival of Hibs in Gorgie a week tomorrow.

It all adds up to an epochal short period for the new manager, conducted in the aftermath of the Rudi Skacel capture, of course. The main consequence sought by supporters from all of this is the advancing of Hearts' capabilities on the pitch, and in that respect another week like last would appear to be in the offing for Burley.

Comparatively lucrative contracts, bearing the club crests of both FBK Kaunas and Hearts, continue to swing back and forth this weekend in front of the likes of Ibrahim Tall, Michael Lamey and Sebastien Schemmel as Burley and his chief executive Phil Anderton dangle a few carrots before reaching a decision on who will arrive in defence. Loan deals between Lithuania and Scotland remain a distinct possibility.

Pospisil and Brellier are already here, and a glance over their shoulders would provide a glimpse of more arrivals on the horizon. "That is why I want to add to the squad, because there has to be choices in a number of positions," said Burley.

"I have said before that the squad is not quite capable of going through the season without more new faces.

"Things are moving on, but unfortunately nothing could be done before our trip to Kilmarnock.

"It is likely that some negotiations will be completed over the next two or three days and we would hope to have something to announce at the start of the week. There are a number of players who we are speaking to at the moment.

"Unfortunately some of the signings will carry on into next week but we look forward to getting things done and dusted.

"We have added three players already but the squad, if you assess it, still needs strengthening - so we are working on that at the moment."

The impatience of those who follow in the wake of clubs with lofty ambitions is one of few guarantees in football.

Just ask the aforementioned Strachan about it. Hearts fans can be no different at times, but Burley's calculated, unhurried actions in recruiting his players have prompted the support to simmer and recline in full trust of their manager.

The saying does state that the best things come to those who wait, and Anderton certainly agrees. "The signings we are making were not all driven by the first game of the season, and we were quite prepared for things to run into next week if it was necessary," he reasoned. "We have until the transfer window closes on August 31 and we are looking to strengthen wherever the manager feels he needs either front-line players or back-up to what we have at the minute.

"The other point I would like to make is that not all of these players will be signed to Kaunas and then loaned to us. Some of them will be contracted directly to Hearts.

"As for who falls into which category, you will have to wait and see."

And that's the central point. Time is on Hearts' side, Burley is right to measure his every move and is blessed by having an unsuppressed environment in which to do so.

Others are not so privileged.

Taken from the Scotsman