BURLEY'S EYEING UP ANDY FOR SAINTS

GEORGE BURLEY wants Andy Webster to join forces with him again at Southampton.

Burley, who left Tynecastle in September, is a big admirer of Webster from his brief but successful spell as Hearts manager last season.

And he enquired about the Scotland star once it emerged Webster handed in his notice to the Jambos after falling out of favour with controversial Hearts chief Vladimir Romanov.

Under FIFA regulation 17, Webster is free to sign for any non-Scottish club from July 1 and Hearts will receive only compensation based on his final year salary.

Burley has kept a close eye on Webster's situation since leaving Gorgie and would love him on board to help Saints' push for promotion to the Premiership next season.

But Webster isn't likely to be short of offers from some top English Premiership clubs with both Everton and Fulham waiting in the wings, while the Old Firm have also been eyeing his situation.

Webster will report for the start of Hearts' pre-season training on Wednesday and jet out with the squad when they depart for the south of France 24 hours later.

Valdas Ivanauskas will fly into Scotland this evening to prepare the squad for the new season. He was set for showdown talks on his future after approaches were made to Alexei Mikhailichenko to take over as new boss.

Romanov cancelled yesterday's planned talks after flying to the Arctic Circle on business but is happy with Ivanauskas to continue the preparations tomorrow.

Ivanauskas said: "I'll be back to work with the players on Wednesday and then we go to France."

It's understood Romanov has chartered a yacht in Monaco to entertain his first-team squad but Ivanauskas said: "It's not just about relaxing, we'll also be working hard."

Taken from the Daily Record