Crawley Town keen to take Rudi Skacel on loan from Hearts until end of the season

Steve Evans, manager of the npower League Two leaders, revealed he hoped to sign the 32-year-old Czech on loan until the end of the season.

However, he might find it easier than anticipated as Skacel signed a contract in August that expires at the end of January, while Hearts are actively seeking to offload players.

Evans told his club’s website: “I do not like talking about players that we have an interest in signing, but, as it looks like the news is out, yes, I can confirm we have made an approach to Hearts.

“We are keen to bring Rudi here on loan until the end of the season and it is now up to the boy’s club as to whether we can have a chat with him.

“I have watched him a number of times and he would definitely add something to what we have – he would not be more of the same. He got 13 SPL goals last season and he is always a threat around the opposition penalty box. Let us wait and see what Hearts say. He is their player and we must respect that totally.” Skacel, in his second spell at Tynecastle, has scored five goals in 20 appearances this season.

On Wednesday, Hearts paid players their overdue wages from December, but they have yet to respond to a Scottish Premier League directive to pay interest on the three late monthly payments and legal costs following an SPL hearing.

Eggert Jonsson, Calum Elliot and Janos Balogh have all left Tynecastle since the wages problem emerged, and Ryan Stevenson withdrew his services in protest. Manager Paulo Sergio has admitted he expects a difficult month with players moving.

Meanwhile, striker John Sutton admits Hearts can take no chances against Auchinleck Talbot as they embark on their final opportunity to win silverware this season in the William Hill Scottish Cup.

Hearts lost to Ayr in the Scottish Communities League Cup and face more opposition from Ayrshire in the form of the Scottish Junior Cup holders in the fourth round at Tynecastle tomorrow.

“There are certainly some very good junior teams about,” Sutton told Hearts TV. “I think the top junior teams would certainly give Third Division teams a game and even Second Division teams. So we know it’s not going to be easy and it’s certainly no foregone conclusion.

“We have to make sure we’re in the hat for the next round because we’re not going to win the league now and we’re out of the League Cup, so this our last chance to really do something this season.

“It’s a really important game and we don’t want to muck up in this one and hopefully it will be the start of a run to the final.”