Webster offered £12,000 a week to stay at Hearts

ANDY WEBSTER was offered a wage package in the region of £12,000 a week to remain at Hearts, but the Scotland defender is still certain to leave Tynecastle this summer.

Negotiations between Webster's agent, Charles Duddy, and Hearts' majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov broke down some time ago and, earlier this week, the player was publicly branded unreliable by his Lithuanian employer as he was formally made available for transfer.

Webster's present contract expires in June 2007 with high-profile sides in both Scotland and England monitoring his situation. However, a source close to Hearts has detailed the extent to which the club went to keep him.

"Webster was offered really good money, and you don't know if he'll get that elsewhere. His package was similar to the one Craig Gordon got."

Gordon extended his deal with Hearts last month and is now tied to the club until 2009. Under the terms of his contract the goalkeeper earns an average of £12,000 a week, and that figure can rise to £18,000 after bonuses.

Webster was still in negotiations with Hearts about a new deal earlier this year, although his omission from the Hearts side for the SPL match at Tannadice back in February is understood to have been a pivotal factor in his decision to halt contract talks.

Hearts can expect to receive around £1million for the 24-year-old should they decide to sell him at the end of the season with a year left on his contract.

Meanwhile, club staff hope captain Steven Pressley will be available to face Celtic on Sunday.

"If Steven is going to have a chance of playing he will have to train first, and preferably more than once," said assistant coach John McGlynn.

"Ideally we would want him to train today and then again on Saturday. We are very hopeful that he'll be able to do that, though. His back has improved a lot."

Concerns have been alleviated over left-back Takis Fyssas and striker Roman Bednar, with the latter expected to resume his attacking partnership with Edgaras Jankauskas.

Hearts have announced that segregation may be in place in McLeod Street for the aftermath of Sunday's match with Celtic to avoid rival supporters clashing outside Tynecastle. The club are presently discussing the issue with police.

Only 700 tickets remain for Hearts' last home match of the season against Aberdeen on Wednesday. Prices start at £10 for adults and £5 for concessions.

Taken from the Scotsman