McAllister takes steps to sort out Hearts future

JAMIE McALLISTER has held clear-the-air discussions with Hearts as he seeks reassurances on his future with the club.

The 28-year-old had become increasingly frustrated after signing a new two-and-a-half-year contract as recently as January and failing to start a match for the club since.

He suffered a twisted knee at Inverness in March which precluded him for over a month but, despite making a full recovery, he was denied any first-team action in the closing weeks of the campaign and was left out of the squad for the Scottish Cup final triumph.

McAllister told the Evening News in March that he would actively seek a move from Hearts should his sporadic exposure continue, saying: "Playing in the reserves is no good at my age. I need to be playing first-team football, so all I can do is wait until the end of the season and re-evaluate things.

"I've got over two years left having just signed my new deal but, if things stay the way they are, then I'll have to look at the situation."

However, after receiving certain assurances in meetings with senior club officials, the versatile defender-cum-midfielder has agreed to remain at Tynecastle to challenge for a starting place at the start of the new season.

A close friend of McAllister revealed today: "Jamie is looking forward to the new season but he wants to play like any player. His wife is due their baby in two weeks and he wants the best for his family.

"He was disappointed in January at signing a new contract and then seeing eleven new players arrive. Then he has been left out in recent weeks, including the cup final and, if he had been playing, he could probably have expected to be days to be included in the Scotland squad for the Kirin Cup.

"He is going to push for a starting berth next season and is content to put the disappointment of missing out on the cup final behind him."

Hearts could be heading to Austria for a pre-season training camp at the beginning of July as they prepare to enter the Champions League at the second qualifying stage later that month.

Interim head coach Valdas Ivanauskas has recommended the training facilities on offer in the country where he spent three years playing with Austria Vienna and Casino Salzburg in the 1990s, although Holland also remains a possibility.

Tynecastle officials are presently trying to finalise plans for a pre-season base, with the squad due to return to Riccarton for the resumption of training on June 23 - the same day as they go into the hat for the Champions League draw.

Taken from the Scotsman