Diamond can wait

Last updated : 04 March 2011 By TwoTonTed
20100402-Hearts badgeJim Jefferies is not making a move right this second for Aberdeen defender Zander Diamond. Aberdeen boss Craig Brown has claimed that Jefferies had called him to express an interest in Diamond, whose contract expires at the end of the season. That appears to be a bit far from reality.

Jefferies said : "We've had no talks with Zander Diamond. I saw in some papers that we had already signed him or had discussions with him and that wasn't true. I told him (Brown) the agent had been in touch with me to indicate that he was out of contract. I said I hadn't made up my mind if I was interested or not. He'll tell you that. I've been linked with three players this week. Agents phone you up and say to you this player and that player is out of contract at the end of the season. I say 'that's good to know, thank you very much' and then suddenly you're linked to signing them."

Hearts defender Ismael Bouzid is also out of contract at the end of the season. However, Jefferies is not fielding calls for his services as he plans to offer the Algerian a new deal. Jefferies went on: "I'll leave that to the owners. I think we've maybe got an option on him for a further year. Sergei (Hearts director Sergejus Fedotovas) is due to be over soon and we'll sit down and talk."