HEARTS manager Jim Jefferies, who will meet the club's top striker John Robertson today to discuss the player's future, is one of the men who has caught the eye of Sheffield Wednesday's board, who are seeking a replacement for Ron Atkinson who was sacked at the end of last season.
Jefferies, who is one year into a four-year contract at Tynecastle, is believed to be on Wednesday's short list, which includes their former player and favourite for the post, Chris Waddle, currently manager at Burnley, and current Leicester coach Martin O'Neill, who is at odds with his club over a new management structure.
The interest in Jefferies is the first shown by an English Premiership club and, in the light of his Scottish Cup success, could be one of many possible approaches Hearts will have to contend with for their manager.
Whether Jefferies and his assistant, Billy Brown, would want to leave the club, where they have put together a young side they believe will be one of the contenders for the league title next season, is another matter, but the chance to manage a Premiership side would be hard to turn down.
Meanwhile, the meeting with Robertson at Tynecastle today will decide whether the player, who has been given legendary status among the Hearts fans, still has a future at the club he has served for 18 years.
Robertson has made it clear that he believes he has a couple of good footballing years left in him and wants to stay, but he has said there will be no animosity today if Jefferies decides he does not figure in his future plans.
New French champions Lens have asked the Edinburgh club to play a pre-season friendly, possibly on July 25. Hearts have also lined up games with Bohemians, in Dublin on World Cup final day, July 12, and St Pat's two days later, as part of a pre-season tour.
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