Locke eyes King replacement
Hearts manager Gary Locke has an under-21 replacement lined up for the departing Adam King - but he still hopes to re-sign fans' hero Rudi Skacel.
King, an 18-year old midfielder, is close to completing a B#150,000 move to Swansea after going through his medical at the Welsh club on Monday.
Popular opinion seems to be that the deal would then allow Hearts to sign Skacel - who has been training with the club - for the third time at the end of January. However, Locke's understanding is that Skacel cannot be the player who replaces the youngster.
Administration-hit Hearts are under a continuing Scottish Professional Football League registration embargo, but can apply to replace players with a comparable replacement on a one-out, one-in basis. A separate Scottish Football Association sanction, which prohibits them signing players aged 21 and over, ends on Saturday.
Locke said: "It has to be an under-21 player and it still has to be ratified by the SFA. There's a player I've got in mind who I'd like to bring in. It would be a loan deal.
"We've still got the embargo so it's not a simple case of one in-one out. We've still got to get the okay. Whether we get that or not I don't know."
Skacel can still be signed if Hearts receive clearance from the league that the deactivating of goalkeeping coach Alan Combe's player registration would allow them to bring in a replacement.
"We're still waiting to hear back from the SPFL regarding that," Locke said. "We're hopeful that we will hear something by the end of the day.
"I've not hidden the fact that Skacel is a player I would love to have. It would be great to be able to freshen the squad. Even bringing in one new face would be great for the dressing room."
Hearts take on St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday night buoyed by the news that Billy Brown has agreed another short-term contract with the club's administrators that will keep him in the assistant manager role up until the end of February.
"I'm delighted," added Locke. "I've never hidden the fact I've wanted him beside me all along. We've got some big games coming up so it's important to have Billy still here. Hopefully the by the time this deal expires we'll have sorted everything out off the field, which is the most important thing."
With Hearts 19 points adrift at the bottom of the league table, the League Cup semi-final with Inverness on Sunday might be considered of greater importance than the clash with St Mirren. Unfortunately the limitations of the Hearts squad denies Locke the choice of resting players.
"We'll just have to put out the same team," he said. "It's all we've got. I'd loved to have the scope to make five or six changes ahead of Sunday.
"Then again, tomorrow's a big game off the back of a win and it'll be the first time I'm able to pick the same team two weeks running this year as long as no injuries are picked up in training.
"It's important we keep the run and our increased confidence going."
As well as King, Locke will also be without fellow midfielder Ryan Stevenson who will serve the second of his two-match ban.
St Mirren boss Danny Lennon insists the Buddies will never make the kind of mistakes in the transfer market that will lead them down a path to financial ruin.
The Paisley manager has made just two signings this month after borrowing striker Adam Campbell from Newcastle for six months and snapping up Gregg Wylde following the winger's release by Aberdeen.
But he admits he has been frustrated after losing out on a number of other targets to big-spending rivals.
However, Lennon says Saints - who were forced to sell their old Love Street home to supermarket giants Tesco nine years ago in a last-ditch bid to clear B#2million debts - will not follow the likes of Hearts and Rangers into administration by spending wildly.
Lennon, whose side travel to Tynecastle to face the crisis-hit Jambos on Scottish Premiership duty on Wednesday, said: "January has been a frustrating month. It's been busy and we have identified a few players that we want to come in and help the group.
"Unfortunately our club doesn't have the deep pockets that others have and we have lost out on one or two players.
"But I would rather remain debt free and make sure that we live properly than go out and spend money on players.
"The group of directors we have here have got this club into a solid footing and I can't see St Mirren ever going into the type of trouble it was in 10 years ago again.
"You just have to look at the position some other clubs are in at this time to see what can happen but that certainly would not happen at this club."
Lennon is, however, still hopeful of bringing in a couple of late signings ahead of Friday's transfer deadline if his budget will allow it.
"I'm quietly confident," he said. "But nothing is guaranteed and I would never panic by buying someone just for the sake of it. I'll only bring in someone if I think they will improve us.
"But even if we don't sign anyone, we have enough in the squad to keep us going for the rest of the season."
Lennon has no fresh fitness worries. The already-injured trio of striker Stephane Bahoken (thigh), midfielder Kenny McLean (knee) and winger Gary Teale (groin) remain out.
Source: PA
