Romanov will back Jefferies with cash for players with sell-on potential

The majority shareholder welcomed the Hearts manager to Kaunas earlier this week for a two-day summit to discuss summer recruitment plans.

With the backing of Hearts' parent company, Ukio Bankas Investment Group, Jefferies was informed funds are available for the right player.

He remains an admirer of Kilmarnock's Kevin Kyle and Craig Bryson and the former is available for free as he is out of contract at Rugby Park.

Bryson, 23, is tied to the Ayrshire club until June 2012, however, and as such would command a transfer fee.

He has already welcomed the prospect of working under Jefferies again.

The manager said today that money will be paid for prospering young players who can develop at Tynecastle before being sold on at a profit.

"The club's philosophies have not changed," he told the Evening News. "Mr Romanov has stressed that there are two areas: younger boys coming through and new players coming in.

"If we have to go and invest money in the playing side then it has to be done with younger, talented boys who can come in and do us a job before moving on to bigger and better things. That's something we've always said.

"It doesn't stop us bringing in experienced boys but anyone who costs money has to be younger, like early 20s with a good pedigree.

"If they are successful with us they might bring the club money two or three years down the line.

"We need to make sure we aren't investing transfer money in older players, we'd have to get them in on freedom of contract."