Hearts handed boost as Rudi Skacel signs deal until end of season

By ALAN PATTULLO
Published on Wednesday 1 February 2012 02:23

RUDI Skacel will remain at Hearts for the rest of the season after the popular midfielder signed an extension to his contract, which was due to expire at midnight last night.

Departures from Tynecastle were kept to a minimum yesterday, contrary to expectation. Striker Rob Ogleby has joined Blue Square Bet Premier league leaders Wrexham while Jamie Walker has returned to Raith Rovers on loan again until the end of the current campaign.

Evaldas Razulis’ loan agreement with Kaunas, meanwhile, has now been made permanent while defender Conrad Balatoni has negotiated an early release from his contract and is now a free agent.

Marian Kello and David Templeton, two of Hearts’ more established stars, were being pursued by Austria Vienna and Bristol City respectively, until late into last night.

The Skacel news confirmed reports yesterday that the player and Hearts were “edging closer” to a new deal. It means Skacel’s second spell at the club will be extended until the summer at least. It also ensures Hearts can retain the services of their highest goalscorer this season as they attempt to seal third place in the league and taste Scottish Cup glory again. Skacel has scored nine times, including a hat-trick in the 5-2 win over St Mirren in his last Tynecastle appearance.

At the time it was feared that this would stand as his last home game for the club. If it was to prove his final match, Skacel said it was “a good way to say good-bye”. He did, however, stress that his preferred option was to stay on at Hearts, despite interest from down south.

English League Two side Crawley Town made enquires but Skacel, who operates without an agent, struck a deal to remain at Tynecastle. He announced the news via his Twitter account. “I am happy to say we came to an agreement with Hearts and I am staying till the end of the season,” he said, before adding: “Let’s go Jambos!”

The official Hearts website also reported the news, describing the player as a “fans’ favourite”. The story stated that “Rudi’s contract was set to run out this evening [Monday] but negotiations over an extension were successfully completed today, meaning the 32-year-old will remain a Jambo until the summer”.

Much had been made of an anticipated player exodus from Tynecastle in January in an attempt to help resolve financial issues at the club. As the transfer window deadline day wore on it was clear that Hearts were struggling to move out those high earning players whose salaries the club have had such difficulty honouring.

By early evening last night, just four of their lower-profile players had left. Ogleby, who spent part of this season on loan at East Fife, has joined Wrexham after agreeing to an early termination of his contract with Hearts. The Wales under-21 forward joined the Tynecastle club from Coventry City in 2010 but did not make a first-team appearance. Balatoni, who spent spells on loan at Partick Thistle, has also left having struggled to make an impression at Tynecastle.

Walker has returned to Raith on loan again until the end of the campaign, having already made five appearances for the First Division club.

Razulis’ loan agreement with Kaunas has now been made permanent, while Craig Thomson’s loan spell with the Lithuanian club has come to an end.

Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov signalled his intent in a statement posted on the club website on 5 January. In this he revealed that he was not “going to gift the club money anymore”. He added that “the only left for the club to do is to develop its own youth”.

It was supposed that many of the club’s high-profile players would leave in January in a revenue-generating exercise.

Bristol City remained in negotiations with the club late into last night over winger Templeton, who had also been linked with a move to Rangers. Austria Vienna, meanwhile, were in contact about goalkeeper Kello, whose contract expires in the summer.

Understudies Jamie MacDonald and Mark Ridgers have recently agreed extensions to their contracts.

Taken from the Scotsman