'˜Bored' Cathro reveals club are trying to up Walker offer

Hearts head coach Ian Cathro. Picture: SNS

Ian Cathro insists Hearts remain in the dark over talk of an improved and final offer from Rangers for Jamie Walker and, instead, the head coach is hopeful the winger can earn the 'rewards' he deserves by staying at Tynecastle.

Whilst others appear intent on turning Rangers’ pursuit of Walker into something of a saga, Cathro, pictured, claims he finds the continuing chatter surrounding the issue irritatingly tedious. He certainly batted away the latest suggestions with evident frustration yesterday before heading north for this evening’s Betfred Cup tie away to Elgin City.

A fourth, and possibly final, bid from Rangers is said to be in the offing, with Hearts apparently intent on heading off the Ibrox club by tabling a new contract that would make Walker their highest-paid player. Asked if Hearts had been made aware of another Rangers bid, Cathro responded with a frank “no”, but he added: “There’s a period of time to go. Maybe another club might want him, I think everyone has forgotten that’s a possibility.

“Clubs want a good player and Jamie is a good player. But for us to be constantly playing this game when there’s no need for it is just boring.

“We would love to have him here for a longer period. He’s a player who is at a level which should be rewarded as well. Those things are ‘in play’ but I wouldn’t go any further than that. It’s quite calm. Nothing has changed.”

Cathro remains determined the ongoing Walker narrative will not deflect concentration away from tonight’s cup tie in Elgin.

“It’s not detracting anything from us,” added Cathro. “We’ve been really focused on this first game since the first time we got back for pre-season.”