NEIL SAID NO TO BIG BUCKS TO GET BACK

NEIL McCANN insists it was the lure of Hearts that made him turn his back on a pot of Premiership gold to chase silverware in Edinburgh.

The 31-year-old Scotland frontman knocked back lucrative offers from Wigan and Sunderland as well as a number of Championship clubs and an offer from Spain to sign a two-and-a-half year deal at Tynecastle.

McCann said: "It was flattering to be linked with Premiership clubs but that would have been the easy option to take the money that was on offer.

"But this wasn't about the money. If it was I'd have moved elsewhere. This was purely a footballing decision.

"I'm not just saying this but it did mean so much to me that Hearts were interested. As soon as I knew that, my mind was already made up.

"The relationship I had with the fans here was fantastic the first time round.

"I said when I left Hearts I'd love to come back one day and I'm just so happy to be granted that opportunity.

"The two-and-a-half years I spent at Southampton were not the best and it has been a frustrating time for me.

"This is the best I have felt about football in a long time.

"Graham Rix made me feel important to this team and I had not felt like that for a long time.

"When a manager gives you that belief and knowing the club and a lot of the boys here I was just itching to sign."

Rix said: "I can't hide my delight at this as I feel it's a great signing for the club. He is a big, big player and a huge factor was that the boy wanted to come here.

"Neil has turned down a massive financial offer from two Premiership clubs to come to Hearts.

"It was a piece of cake to set up the deal. We spoke briefly over the phone and as I soon as I hung up the receiver I knew the deal was going to happen.

"I remember Neil from my time at Dundee and I knew then he had a bright future in the game."

Taken from the Daily Record