Hearts boss in Brum rush for friendly clash

Published on Wednesday 17 March 2010 09:27

HEARTS manager Jim Jefferies has approached his Birmingham City counterpart Alex McLeish about a possible pre-season friendly between the clubs at Tynecastle.

Jefferies intends to stage a home match against high-profile opposition before the new SPL season kicks off on Saturday, 14 August. Birmingham manager McLeish is receptive to the offer of playing in Edinburgh and may bring his side north at the start of August.

Birmingham's Scottish contingent of James McFadden, Barry Ferguson and Garry O'Connor would be an attractive proposition for Hearts supporters and McLeish himself is no stranger to Tynecastle having managed Motherwell, Hibs and Rangers.

Jefferies stressed today that nothing has been finalised with the English Premier League club but said he hoped McLeish would agree to the fixture proposal.

"I've approached Alex and he is going to think about it.

"Nothing is cast in stone yet because Alex is going to get back to me," he said.

"I like to have a friendly at home for the supporters before the season starts and Alex said he'd think about it.

"The English season starts on the same weekend as ours so I thought it would work out that we could play each other the week before, but Alex said he is already committed to a friendly against Leeds that day.

"He said maybe the week before that or a midweek match. He will get back to me when he knows his plans.

"Birmingham would be a good one because they have Scottish boys like McFadden and the boy David Murphy, who played with Hibs. We'll keep working on it.

"I've got some other things tentatively arranged but nothing booked or confirmed yet."