Wallace had to go - Jefferies

21 July 2011 18:27
Jim Jefferies admits Hearts had to accept a bid from Rangers for Lee Wallace to prevent the possibility of losing the defender for nothing.[LNB] After making a couple of unsuccessful bids for the Scotland international, the Ibrox club confirmed on Thursday afternoon that they have agreed to sign the 23-year-old for £1.5million, subject to a medical.[LNB]Gorgie boss Jefferies, in Norway on Thursday to see Tromso play Paksi SE - the Jambos play with winners of the tie in the Europa League third qualifier next week - claimed that after failing to persuade Wallace to extend his contract at Tynecastle, it was a case of cashing in on their asset.[LNB]"First and foremost we wanted to sign Lee on a longer-term contract but he said he was ambitious and he had opportunities to leave," he said.[LNB]"That's the prerogative of players these days.[LNB]"So the club had to make a decision on a player that could leave for nothing at the end of the season.[LNB]"He gave the club the situation but he said that if the club could get a fee for him then he would have been happy.[LNB]"Lee Wallace is a quality player. An English Premier League side and Rangers were in for him and that speaks volumes.[LNB]"Rangers were keen on him and money is important to any club[LNB]"The club have got to get money in for quality, you can't lose it for nothing.[LNB]"Lee has been fantastic about it all.[LNB]"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.[LNB]"So we wish him all the best. He was fantastic for Hearts."[LNB]Jefferies is aware that Wallace could be lining up against Hearts in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League opener at Ibrox on Saturday lunchtime.[LNB]"That's the life of a football manager," he said.[LNB]"We knew there was a chance we could lose Lee so we got Danny Grainger in and we have cover in that position."[LNB]Meanwhile, Hearts assistant boss Billy Brown does not expect to see Ally McCoist's appointment as successor to Walter Smith to make any difference to the Scottish champions.[LNB]He said: "I was down at Blackpool to watch them the other night and they were no difference in that Rangers team to the one I seen last season.[LNB]"They are competitive, resilient, and dangerous.[LNB]"Don't underestimate Ally. He has been with Walter Smith for a while and knows the score.[LNB]"The team is not going to change dramatically.[LNB]"I think Ally is wise enough not to change everything drastically.[LNB]"So I wouldn't expect Rangers to falter in any way.[LNB]"I think they have the right man at the helm, a good football man, who knows what he is doing.[LNB]"I don't think there will be a lot of changes to the way Walter ran the club."

Source: Team_Talk