Hearts will look to lower leagues for new players, says prudent Jim Jefferies

HEARTS MANAGER Jim Jefferies insists he can bring success back to Tynecastle by reverting to a proven formula of plundering the lower leagues for gems.

Confirmation last week that the club's debt has risen to a staggering 34.78 million won't affect this summer's signing strategy as Jefferies had already been informed by owner Vladimir Romanov of the need for stringent budget cuts.

The prospect of scouring the lower rungs of Scottish football is an exciting one for Jefferies as the core of his 1998 Scottish Cup winning team, the likes of David Weir, Colin Cameron, Neil McCann, Stevie Fulton and Jim Hamilton, signed from less illustrious sides.

With Hearts' Europa League push all but over ahead of today's final SPL game of the season at home to Celtic and captain Michael Stewart, Jose Goncalves and Christian Nade among those set to leave, the club's supporters anticipate change. Romanov's return to financial prudence is in stark contrast to former promises of bringing World Cup-calibre players to Tynecastle but Jefferies is adamant the shift won't hinder his chances of putting a competitive side on the park.

"We can't sustain what we are doing at the moment, Mr Romanov has said that and I'm quite happy with that," said Jefferies, who has been enthused with the impact Ryan Stevenson has made since he signed from the now relegated First Division side Ayr United on transfer deadline day at the start of February.

"If the player budget was half what it is now I would be delighted. I know what the other clubs work to so no one could criticise Mr Romanov about putting the money in to bring players here. The only ones that will probably outdo that will be Rangers and Celtic. If Dundee United can be successful on their budget, and Motherwell, there is nothing to stop Hearts on what I'm sure will be a decent budget compared to what they have. We have to spend that wisely and try to get decent signings. I have got the advantage that Hearts is a big club. A lot of players want to come here, so we can give them a wee bit more without going stupid.

"I know what the market is and what players are worth. I'm not going to go into giving players from lower divisions huge sums of money to get them here. There will be an opportunity for them to come and play at a bigger club and pick up a salary that is bigger than what they're on."

Jefferies knows he can't let the grass grow under his feet when it comes to identifying summer targets and has already compiled a list of possibilities in the lower leagues.

He added: "We have always had an eye down the divisions and Ryan Stevenson has come in. You can see in the last two or three weeks he is getting to grips with things and I expect him to be a decent player next season.

"I've got my eye on one or two. Whether I get them or not is a different matter. We go to enough games. We've had one down south that we like. Whether we will get him or not I don't know. He caught our eye and Billy (Brown, Hearts assistant manager] and I have both had a look at him and we'll see if we can do that. We will keep working in the same way that we've done over the last 22 years."

An ill-fated late push for Europe has heightened hopes of an improved season next term and Jefferies, who succeeded Csaba Laszlo at the tail end of January, is desperate to deliver.

He said: "I think everyone has an expectation that we will do quite well next year and I've got to make sure that happens.

"It's a fantastic challenge next season. There are a lot of things that this club can do. There is not a lot wrong with Hearts. We know what we can do and I'm sure we will be allowed to go and do it."