Jamie Hamill turned down Hibs to link up again with Jim Jefferies

THE first week of the close season could have seen Jamie Hamill being unveiled as a Hibernian player. He had visited the club's training centre at East Mains, and discussed the potential move with Hibs manager Colin Calderwood. Instead, the minute he heard of Hearts' interest, the 24-year-old ruled out any thought of signing on at Easter Road, and opted to throw in his lot with Jim Jefferies, his former boss at Kilmarnock.

It is a decision which has confronted Hamill with a tougher fight for a place in the first team than he might have had at Hibs, where he could have been a solution to their worries at right-back. But he is more than willing to have that fight, and explained yesterday that the prospect of working again with Jefferies was a major factor in his choice.

"I went to the training ground and spoke to the gaffer and things like that," Hamill said of his negotiations with Hibs. "That was the only team that I had gone to speak to, but I had obviously heard a few rumours that there were a few different clubs interested. But as soon as Hearts were the main target then I took a step towards that. My agent was telling me I might be going here or there. But, with the Hearts situation, I wasn't really interested in anybody else.

"If I was to go down to England, I would be moving my family. Here I'm just moving a couple of hours up the road. The gaffer here at Hearts obviously gave me a chance to play in the SPL, gave me my debut and stuck by me through a few things as well. He showed good faith."

Hamill particularly appreciated the help from his then manager at Rugby Park, and assistant manager Billy Brown, when his father died of a heart attack on Hogmanay 2006. Robert Hamill was just 41.

"When my dad passed away, the support they gave me was second to none really. Just wee things like that persuaded me towards the gaffer here. I've really enjoyed working under him.

"The compassion Jim and Billy showed me definitely meant a lot to me. Obviously, you go through hard times in your life. It was a blur to myself at the time, but now looking back the gaffer, Billy, Lockie (first-team coach Gary Locke], the full team was there for me. Thinking back on that they were brilliant for me. It was a sad situation with my dad passing away, but the gaffer showed faith in me."

Having opted for Hearts, Hamill knows he could be in for a rough reception from the Hibs fans - and perhaps the players too - in the first Edinburgh derby of the season. But such a prospect does not faze him, as it means he will have already won his first battle by getting into the team.

"I'll take that in my stride, definitely," he said when asked if he was concerned about alienating one side of Edinburgh. "I'm at Hearts now and I've got to push forward to hopefully get a starting place. But it's going to be a tough ask with the amount of players here. Hopefully I can hit the ground running in pre-season.

"I definitely think there is a strong squad (at Tynecastle]. Because you play so many games against each other, you get to know different squads. Hibs have got a big squad as well, but Hearts have got a bigger squad - and a better squad. I'm looking forward to working with the boys and I've kicked a few of them as well. Hopefully they welcome me in."

Hamill joined Hearts on Wednesday, along with John Sutton from Motherwell and Danny Grainger from St Johnstone. Zander Diamond is still expected to sign soon, and Hamill may also be joined by another former Kilmarnock player, Mehdi Taouil.

"He would definitely be a good addition to the squad. He plays in the hole and I've played with him the last four years. He has been exceptional in training, some of the things he does. It's like 'wow'.

"He and Alexei Eremenko were just different class in training: you probably couldn't separate the two of them with their ability and to find a pass. Him coming here would be a big thing to get. I'll get on the phone tonight and tell him to come here." If Taouil does become part of the Hearts influx it will make it all the harder for Hamill to claim a place in his original position in midfield. Having played mainly at right-back last season, he appears more likely to settle there, although at present is unwilling to express a preference.

"I'll just take it as it comes," he added. "I'm not really too fussed. If I'm up front I'm not caring as long as I'm playing. I'll play it by ear just now and see what the gaffer is thinking for midfield or right-back."

l Hearts have released striker Jamie Mole, defender Dawid Kucharski and midfielder Ryan Mulrooney from their first-team squad. They have also trimmed their youth squad, letting go goalkeepers Dean Lyness and Connor Fairley, and outfield players Jamie McCormack, Murray Christie, Michael Deland and Shaun Hill.