We couldn't lose Lee Wallace for nothing - so we got cash for quality

Jul 22 2011 Alan Marshall

JIM JEFFERIES admits Hearts couldn't afford to turn down Rangers' £1.5million bid for defender Lee Wallace and risk losing the player for nothing next summer.

After making a couple of unsuccessful offers for the Scotland star earlier in the summer, the Ibrox club finally snapped up the 23-year-old yesterday.

Gorgie boss Jefferies was in Norway last night to see Hungarians Paksi SE dump Tromso 3-0 to set up a Europa League qualifying date with the Tynecastle side.

And as the gaffer assessed the day's business he admitted he had to cash in on Wallace after failing to convince the full-back to extend his deal with the capital club.

Jefferies said: "First and foremost we wanted to sign Lee on a longer-term contract but he said he was ambitious and he had opportunities on the table to leave.

"That's the prerogative of players these days.

"So the club had to make a decision on a player that could leave for nothing at the end of the season.

"The player had made it clear that if the club could get a fee for him then he would have been happy.

"Lee Wallace is a quality player. An English Premier League side and Rangers were in for him and that speaks volumes.

"Rangers were very keen on the player and money is important to any side.

"The club have got to get money in for quality - you can't lose it for nothing. Lee has been absolutely fantastic about it all.

"There has been a lot of speculation since he returned to pre-season training but he just got on with it and was never at my door.

"So we wish him all the best for the future. He was fantastic for Hearts."

Jefferies is aware Wallace could be lining up against Hearts in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League opener at lunchtime on Saturday at Ibrox.

And he said: "That's the life of a football manager.

"We knew there was a chance we could lose Lee so we brought Danny Grainger in and we have cover in that position."

Meanwhile, Hearts assistant boss Billy Brown does not expect to see much difference in the Scottish champions after Ally McCoist replaced Walter Smith as boss of the Ibrox outfit.

He said: "I was down at the Blackpool friendly to watch them the other night and they was no difference in that Rangers team to the one I saw last season.

"They are just as resilient, competitive, and also very dangerous.

"Don't underestimate Ally McCoist. He has been with Walter Smith for a while and knows the score.

"The team is not going to change dramatically.

"I think Ally is wise enough not to change anything too drastically.

"So I really wouldn't expect to see Rangers falter in any major way.

"I think they have the right man at the helm - a good football man who knows what he is doing.

"I don't think there will be a lot of changes to the way Walter ran the club."

Taken from the Daily Record