More to come

HEARTS boss Graham Rix today told fans he expects to have more not fewer stars after January.

With the opening of the transfer window just days away, the Tynecastle head coach insisted Hearts would be a buying club.

He said: "I have a lot of good players here but I think we need more.

"We are a bit thin on the ground in certain areas and I'm wanting to build a team here."

Rix said that he and Vladimir Roman and chairman Roman Romanov are in constant discussions over possible signings.

"I have a list of names as does Vladimir and we talk about the players on a daily basis," he said.

He added, though, that nobody would be arriving at Tynecastle if they didn't have something to add to the squad which currently sits in second place in the SPL just four points adrift of Celtic.

"We have to get the right players in and a lot of things can go wrong when you're trying to bring in new players.

"It could financial reasons, medical reasons or just availability."

Rix has barely got his feet under his desk at Riccarton and he is certainly not keen to have to cope with the loss of key personnel so soon after taking charge.

With George Burley unveiled as the new Southampton head coach yesterday, Rix was quick to issue a "hands off" warning to his Tynecastle predecessor.

Burley was installed as Harry Redknapp's successor at St Mary's yesterday and immediately laid plans to bring in new faces when the transfer window opens.

Having been out of a job for just two months since his shock departure from Tynecastle, there are fears among the Hearts fans that he will return to the Capital to plunder the club's best players.

Midfielder Rudi Skacel has been a revelation since becoming Burley's first signing in the summer and, although Hearts have the first option on the loan star at the end of the season, there's no doubt the prospect of linking up again with his old boss would be a huge attraction for the Czech.

Another Burley signing, Julien Brellier, has been in outstanding form, while Michal Pospisil has vehemently denied he wants to quit the club having become disillusioned under the Rix regime.

The former Hearts chief will inevitably be linked with the Scotland trio of Andy Webster, Paul Hartley and Craig Gordon, Burley having described the latter as the best young goalkeeper in the country.

With ex-Hearts No.1 Antti Niemi said to be heading back to the Premiership with Charlton, Scotland goalie Gordon could be an ideal replacement.

Any number of Gorgie stars could be on Burley's radar as he plots a path back to the top flight for Southampton but his Tynecastle successor has stressed any approaches for his players would not be welcome.

"First of all I would like to congratulate George on his appointment. I am pleased for him that he is joining what I consider is a good club," he said.

"I don't have an axe to grind with him. He knows the players here and I wouldn't be surprised if he is interested in making a move for some of them but until that happens I can't really comment."

Skipper Steven Pressley, meanwhile, is set to shrug off a back problem to line up against Falkirk on Boxing Day. The Scotland defender fell awkwardly in training on Thursday but Rix expects him to recover in time.

Taken from the Scotsman