MacDonald in Hearts deal dilemma

JAMIE MacDONALD is keen to commit his future to Hearts after discussing a new deal, however the goalkeeper will consider signing a pre-contract elsewhere in January if problems paying wages continue at Tynecastle.

SPL clubs and English Championship sides have expressed an interest in MacDonald, whose current agreement with Hearts expires next June. His preference would be to extend that contract and talks have progressed positively with Hearts officials so far.

Delayed salaries remain a concern and MacDonald is reluctant to sign until he receives reassurances over the club’s finances. Hearts’ first-team squad are still awaiting wages due on November 16.

“Jamie could sign a pre-contract with another club in January but he wants to be clear what will happen at Hearts before he makes any decisions,” revealed MacDonald’s agent, Dave McPherson.

“If Hearts are not paying salaries between now and January, and there’s no clear message from the owners about who is leaving and who is staying, then Jamie’s got to look at other options. He knows the fact he did well for Hearts earlier this season has put him in the shop window.

“He had a great game down at Tottenham, for example. You can’t get a better game to put on your CV and he kept a clean sheet and saved a penalty that night. It wasn’t the strongest team Tottenham could have put out but he still went down there and performed.

“I think his value, regarding playing for other teams, has risen. He would be able to walk into a lot of other SPL teams but also a few English Championship teams as well.”