Davies opens the door for Hearts swoop

BILLY DAVIES today invited Hearts to make him an offer he can't refuse to become the next manager of the club.

The Preston boss has been linked with a move back north of the Border to Tynecastle as well as with a switch to Derby County, Ipswich Town and Charlton.

Davies is currently on holiday in Portugal after his Deepdale side suffered defeat in the English Championship play-offs against Leeds last week.

The Scot is pondering his future with his family and is expected to announce a decision upon returning to England.

Hearts' majority shareholder, Vladimir Romanov, has yet to confirm Valdas Ivanauskas as being in permanent control despite leading the club to the Champions League qualifiers and to the Tennent's Scottish Cup.

The former FBK Kaunas coach is now back in his native Lithuania still seeking assurances on his future and is expected to meet with Romanov at the end of the week.

Davies' ultimate ambition is to work in the English Premiership but he remains open to offers after taking Preston to the Championship play-offs in two consecutive seasons.

"I will only leave if myself and the board of directors feel it is the right thing for the club and for me," Davies said.

"If that happens then I'll look at it. It's like anything else - who knows? All I can say is I have had a wonderful time at this football club. It's been a tremendous memory for me and I am not in any rush to leave the place. But you can't stop progress for anyone.

"When you take a club this size with these resources to the play-offs then it is going to be special. I'm sure there will be lots of speculation during the summer."

Davies held private discussions with Hearts regarding the head coach's position last year prior to the appointment of George Burley at Tynecastle, although on this occasion the Preston chairman Derek Shaw is at pains to stress that no official approaches have been made for his manager.

"We have had no contact from anyone," he said. "There have been no approaches from any club for permission to speak Billy. I have a feeling this speculation is going to go on all through the summer, and already it's boring."

Davies and his assistant David Kelly signed open-ended contract extensions with Preston last June after intense speculation on the manager's future. Preston would therefore be entitled to compensation should Davies depart.

Ironically, Hearts have lined up a pre-season friendly with Preston at Deepdale on Saturday, July 15.

Meanwhile, the Jambos are reported to be interested in signing Cameroon international striker Albert Meyong.

The 25-year-old was the top scorer in the Portuguese League last season although is understood to be looking for a fresh challenge after his club, Belenenses, were relegated.

Taken from the Scotsman