THE transfer merry-go-round at Tynecastle continued yesterday with Hearts manager Jim Jefferies sticking to his guns over making changes at the beleaguered club, writes Rob Robertson.

Three players are at the centre of moves, Rab McKinnon, David Weir, and Stephane Adam. The most surprising news was that full-back McKinnon, who only joined the club in the close season, has been allowed to go on a three-month loan deal to English third division side Hartlepool United.

The decision to let him go suggests that Jefferies is more than happy with the form of young Gary Naysmith, who has been keeping the more experienced McKinnon out of the side.

Striker Adam, who is also out of contract at the end of the season, is being linked with Sunderland. The north-east club's own ClubCall lined up the player with a move to Peter Reid's side, although Rangers and Southampton have also been reported as having an interest in the player.

Yesterday, Adam said he knew his agent was talking to Hearts as well as a number of other clubs, but said he could not comment on matters at the moment.

The only good news for Jefferies is that central defender David Weir's possible move to Liverpool has been called off, at least for the time being. The player was due to travel to Merseyside this week for signing talks, but before he even got there Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier called the deal off, meaning that Weir will stay at Tynecastle until the end of the season at least.

It is still likely he will decide to leave for no fee under the Bosman ruling, but having him in their ranks will at least help Hearts in their fight against relegation.

Last night Jim Jeffries said he was still hoping to talk to Stephane Adam and his agent over a deal the club had put together to keep him at Tynecastle.

As for the situation with David Weir, Jefferies said: ''David has been as hurt as anyone at the recent run of results and we have still not ruled out the possibility of him staying in the summer.''

Meantime, Colin Cameron last night finally returned to full training and pledged to help keep the Tynecastle side in the Premier League. The former Raith Rovers midfield man is hopleful he is at the end of a nine-month nightmare, with a combination of pelvic and stomach problems having sidelined him for the season so far.

Cameron returned from two weeks at the sports injury clinic at Lilleshall to rejoin his troubled team-mates and he is confident he can help out the relegation-threatened Hearts.

He said: ''It's brilliant to be back in full training, although it has been a bit painful. The situation is that I have two pieces of mesh inside my stomach attached to my hernia, which is going to take some time for me to get adjusted to.

''It is uncomfortable, but there is nothing that can be done and it is just a case of getting used to it. It's not too bad when I do ball work, but when I am doing a lot of running, as I have been doing recently, it can hurt.

''At Lilleshall, my all-round strength was improved and I had a very good work-out over the fortnight.''

Cameron admits he is baffled by Hearts' fall from grace, but he is hopeful that they can improve. He said: ''We were hampered with injuries earlier this season, but it is difficult to put your finger on what caused the problem.

''I know people have been saying Hearts have struggled because I am out and that's very flattering. However, that's not the real reason we've not performed - and no-one knows why that's happened.

''I can't give a definite date as to when I'll return. It all depends on how I feel.

''Hopefully, I can still play some part this season, which would be a big bonus for me.''

q DUNFERMLINE manager Dick Campbell yesterday denied any interest in Motherwell's Owen Coyle after a report suggested that he was planning a cash bid for the striker who has formed a profitable partnership with John Spencer at Fir Park.

Campbell said: ''I hear I'm also supposed to be wanting Steven McGarry from St Mirren, well there is no truth in that, either.''

q PHILLIP Scott last night revealed he is considering signing a lucrative new two-year deal with St Johnstone.

Scott is out of contract in the summer and has been been linked with transfers to Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday and local rivals Dundee United.