HOLLAND WON'T RULE OUT MOVE TO HEARTS
By Anthony Haggerty

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND star Matt Holland last night refused to rule out a possible switch to Hearts in the January transfer window.

The 31-year-old could be set to team up again with former boss George Burley after falling out of favour at Charlton.

Holland was Burley's skipper when the Hearts manager was in charge of an Ipswich side that finished fifth in the Premiership and qualified for Europe four years ago.

The midfielder has featured just twice for Alan Curbishley's side this season and has made only one substitute appearance in the 2-0 defeat against Chelsea in the Premiership last month.

Holland was a member of the Irish side that drew 0-0 with Switzerland on Wednesday night to end hopes of Brian Kerr's side qualifying for next year's World Cup finals.

He is under contract at Charlton until June 2007 but could fancy a loan move in January in a bid for regular football as he bids to retain match sharpness following four weeks out with a rib injury.

Holland said: "I am aware of Hearts' interest and I know there is a story doing the rounds.

"But first and foremost I'm a Charlton player and I'm contracted to them until the end of next season"I haveabsolutelynocomment tomakeonthe Heartsspeculation at the moment and I believe it wouldbe inappropriate to do so."

Burley has already been told by Lithuanian owner Vladimir Romanov there will be money to spend to boost his squad if the Jambos are still in a challenging position come January.

The Hearts boss is also a keen admirer of Polish midfield star Radoslaw Sobolewski and he remains firmly on the club's radar.

Sobolewski saw a £400,000 switch from Wisla Krakow to Tynecastle fall through at the last minute in August


Taken from the Daily Record