Romanov's money helps to keep Hartley at Hearts

GRAHAM BEAN

HEARTS' willingness to provide a credible challenge to the Old Firm was underlined yesterday with the announcement that Paul Hartley had agreed a new three-year contract.

Hartley, Hearts' outstanding player over the past 18 months, had been the subject of three bids from Celtic, all of which were rejected by the Tynecastle club. At one stage the player submitted a transfer request, but Hearts held firm and have persuaded the Scotland midfielder to sign a deal tying him to the Edinburgh club until the end of season 2007-08.

The new contract will reflect the player's increased standing in the game and such a deal would not have been possible without the financial input of Vladimir Romanov, Hearts' principal shareholder. Romanov's largesse has already seen Hearts acquire six new players in the last three weeks as well as secure the services of George Burley as manager.

"We would not have been able to bring in these new players and keep other players like Paul Hartley without Vladimir Romanov's financial assistance," admitted George Foulkes, the Hearts chairman.

"Hopefully this will put an end to any suggestions that we are prepared to sell players for less than they are worth. If someone was to come in with a what we considered to be a huge offer for a player, then we would look at the situation. But there will be no more cut-price sales at Tynecastle."

In recent years Hearts have been forced to sell players such as Neil McCann, Gary Naysmith, Colin Cameron and Antti Niemi as the club's debt spiralled out of control. While the debt remains, Hearts are now in a position to rebuff predators, be they the Old Firm or from England.

Hartley, signed by Craig Levein on a Bosman free transfer from First Division St Johnstone in summer 2003, has blossomed at Tynecastle into a full international. After a promising but mixed career with Hamilton Accies, Millwall, Raith Rovers and Hibs, Hartley found his niche in the centre of midfield at McDiarmid Park and has flourished in the role since joining Hearts. He made his Scotland debut in March in the San Siro in the World Cup qualifier against Italy and added a second cap in the win over Moldova at Hampden Park in June.

"George Burley was very keen to keep him as he regards him as an integral part of his side," added Foulkes.

Another Hearts player receiving international recognition is Rudi Skacel who was named in the Czech Republic squad yesterday for the friendly against Sweden on Wednesday. The left-sided midfielder, who moved to Tynecastle on a season-long loan deal from Marseille last month, has scored in each of Hearts' opening two wins which have seen the club move to the top of the SPL.

"We know he has started the season in excellent form with Hearts and we would like to take a closer look at Rudi in the international set-up," said Karel Bruckner, the Czech coach. Skacel has one cap for his country having made his international debut in a 5-1 win over Canada in November 2003.

Skacel's form for Hearts will likely signal the departure of Joe Hamill from Tynecastle. The winger has held talks with Leicester City and is keen to link up again with Levein, who left Hearts to take over at the Walkers Stadium last year.

"We have plenty of back-up on the left-hand side so we have let Joe speak to Leicester," said Burley. If he goes, Hamill will be the fourth Hearts player to be reunited with Levein at Leicester, following Mark de Vries, Alan Maybury and Patrick Kisnorbo.

Taken from the Scotsman