Jim Jefferies in no rush to add to his squad

JIM Jefferies does not consider adding to his squad to be a priority as he contemplates the possibility of Hearts splitting the Old Firm, and, perhaps, launching a title challenge of their own.

The Hearts manager was speaking after his Tynecastle side were held to a draw at home by Inverness Caledonian Thistle. This in itself is no shame, with Terry Butcher's resilient team having now gone a calendar year without defeat in the league away from home. Their last reversal came in a First Division fixture against Partick Thistle at Firhill last November.

But Hearts themselves are in a ripe burst of form and are now unbeaten in eight matches. With both Celtic and Rangers inactive at the weekend, Jefferies' side moved to within two points of the former and five of the latter. They have, however, played two matches more.

Despite the incentive to strengthen while the going is good, Jefferies has declared himself happy with the squad he has at his disposal.

He is entitled to look upon the return of the likes of Andrew Driver and Lee Wallace from long-term injury as new signings. Both have been absent for most of the season but are expected to be back playing again early in the new year.

Jefferies revealed he is set to hold talks with owner Vladimir Romanov about the strategy Hearts will adopt when the transfer window opens again in January.

However, he stressed over the weekend that he is satisfied with the group already at the club. Perhaps more significant is the need to stop players leaving the club next month, with David Templeton again catching the eye on Saturday.

"We'll be talking shortly, but, I'll be honest, unless someone becomes available that we desperately want, why would I want any more?" said Jefferies. "I look at what I've got on the pitch, on the bench and coming back from injury. There are not a lot of positions I really need to strengthen.

"We lost (Ismael] Bouzid, for example, and (Adrian] Mrowiec stepped in there. He has been outstanding in midfield for us and he was outstanding at the back today. He's a good player. We've got a lot of players in our squad who can see us through. I'll see what develops between now and the end of the season, but, due to the fantastic effort of the players, the transfer window might be an occasion when I'm not desperate to bring anyone in, unless someone becomes available we really want to improve us."

Jefferies was asked about the likelihood of players going out the way from Tynecastle.

"Well, that's a different question isn't it?" he replied. "Temps is on fire and it will take a big offer to tempt us. He's just a young player coming into the team and he needs to keep his feet on the ground.

"It will eventually happen for him - there's no doubt about that. He's an exciting talent. There was one move in the first half when he did a backheel to put in Stephen Elliott.It was an unbelievable piece of skill."

Asked to put a price on Templeton, Jefferies said: "I'd be looking for nothing - just leave him here! We'll ask for 15 million!"

Terry Butcher, the Inverness manager, would certainly be interested in the player, if not at that price. He is a fully paid-up member of the Templeton fan club after watching him at close quarters on Saturday afternoon, in the 1-1 draw. Butcher also wondered whether players like Templeton would be ever given the chance to shine if plans to re-structure the SPL into two leagues of ten came to fruition.

"Templeton was unbelievable," said Butcher. "I said to Jim at the end: 'How long a contract have you got him on, by the way?' I would pay to watch him. Unfortunately he is in the other team. He is exceptional.

"Would you get that if you are under pressure in the new ten-team league? Would you give kids like him a chance? Would you get the opportunity to play kids like that if you were fighting relegation all the time?"