Webster set for Hearts release talks

CONTRACT rebel Andy Webster will hold talks with Hearts tomorrow in a bid to secure his release from the club. He has arranged a meeting with himself and PFA chief Fraser Wishart and either Vladimir or Roman Romanov in Edinburgh to settle his future.

The 24-year-old Scotland defender was named instead of Celtic's Stephen McManus in Walter Smith's squad for the get-together at St Andrews later this month in spite of the fact he has been frozen out at Tynecastle since refusing to extend his current deal in April.

He's now attempting to enforce a new FIFA rule which says that players can leave a club in the third year of a four-year contract. Birmingham City have joined Blackburn Rovers and Wigan among clubs wanting to sign him.

Webster will be accompanied to the meeting because the club won't negotiate with Charles Duddy, the player's agent.

Meanwhile, new Hearts signing Tiago Costa has admitted his delight at following his former Benfica team-mates to Tynecastle and has vowed to battle for the right-back jersey.

He said: "I'm very happy to be at this club because it is very well known in Portugal as Bruno Aguiar, Takis Fyssas and Edgaras Jankauskas, who all played at Benfica, came to this club last season.

"When my manager told me of this opportunity I thought it was a very good chance for me to come here to improve my skills. I have been training here for three weeks and I could see it is a very well organised club, the supporters are very good and I am very optimistic about the move.

"I will do my best with the team to reach the goals we have established at the start of the season."

On Costa, Ivanauskas added: "He has the chance to play regularly but it is a big fight for him. We have Robbie Neilson and Nerijus Barasa and he will have to adapt to Scottish football, as at the moment he is used to a different style."

Taken from the Scotsman