Source: Team_Talk
Jefferies happy to be away
Jim Jefferies is relieved at the distance between his Hearts side and the Craig Thomson furore in Edinburgh after he was suspended. Jefferies is overseeing Hearts' pre-season preparations in Italy as Thomson's future at the capital club remains uncertain.The 20-year-old was suspended with immediate effect by the club on Tuesday following his conviction for "lewd, libidinous and indecent behaviour".Jefferies told the Daily Record: "The one good thing which has come out of being away is that if we'd been back there, concentrating on our work for the season would have been difficult."It's bad enough here but if we'd actually been at home it would have been difficult."Initially on Friday Hearts announced that they planned to retain the services of Thomson, but on Tuesday they suspended the full-back.A short statement on the club's official website on Tuesday read: "Hearts today announce that Craig Thomson is suspended with immediate effect. No further comment will be made by the club."Thomson earlier this month pleaded guilty, was fined and placed on the sex offenders register in relation to his inappropriate conduct towards two under-age girls over the internet.News of Hearts' initial decision to stand by Thomson resulted in one of the club's sponsors, MacB Water, announcing they were withdrawing support as official water sponsor of the Jambos - a deal worth more than £5,000.