Hearts boss Jim Jefferies today slammed errant media reports that Jose Goncalves had been asked to take a pay cut to remain in maroon.

But the Tynecastle manager revealed that the former FC Thun defender needn't have played his last game for the club if he is prepared to put pen to paper on a new deal.

Defending the club's position in the strongest possible terms, Jim stressed his desire to keep Jose in Edinburgh, but wanted supporters to know just how hard Hearts has worked to make this happen - and just how much the 24-year-old has insisted he wants to leave.

"I've been in the game a long time and the offer he has been made is unbelievable," he at his pre-match news conference this morning. "I have heard some reports that what he has been offered is less. That's nonsense. He's been made one fantastic offer to stay at this club, let me tell you that.

"For anyone to turn that down tells you he might not want to be here. Am I better to go with a player that wants to be at the club or a player that convinces me he does not want to be here?

On the issue of parallels with other players out of contract such as Michael Stewart, Christian Nade and Laryea Kingston, all of whose discussions are at totally different stages (if any contract negotation stage at all), the manager was equally firm.

"Let's be clear about this. I've not made any decisions on these guys. I will use the time between now and the end of the season to decide whether I want them. They are totally different scenarios.

"I made a decision about Jose Goncalves. He is a good young player. I had four meetings in two days. I was sitting talking to Jose, looking and listening to him, and getting the vibes that before he came here he had turned down the contract.

"And not because of the terms, because they were fantastic. Why does he not want to stay? He's been made a fantastic offer. That tells you he does not want to stay at the club.

"If he walked in the door this morning he would be in my plans tomorrow."

Pressed by some journalists eager to know why Jose could not be included until the end of the season, Jim was very clear indeed.

"It's my decision. It is my decision. You don't know what went on with my conversations with Jose. It's my decision.

"I will try and resolve and I will try my hardest. But when he tells me [he wants to stay] that will be enough for me, but as the talks stand - and he is a lovely guy who I get on great with - and the way I am talking to him and the way things happened before I came here I don't think he'll stay.

"We've made it clear to him. I've talked to him and I have listened to why he does not want to sign the contract. For me it sounds like someone who does not want to be at the football club.

"He might tell you differently as they wall want to play, but it is convincing me that's important. I will try to convince him to stay but if we can't we'll get on with it."

Andrew is set to be without Andrew Driver, Ismael Bouzid, Ruben Palazuelos, Jamie Mole, Craig Thomson, Scott Robinson, and Jonathan Stewart.

A late decision will be taken about Jason Thomson and Calum Elliot, the latter having been back in full training over the last week or so with a slot on the bench a possibility.

"We think we've solved that problem as Walter Kidd walked in here this morning," the manager joked.

Ryan Stevenson is set to start for the men in maroon, his debut coming a little earlier than planned as a result of the injury problems currently affecting the club.

On Hearts.TV today - Watch Jim Jefferies pre-match news conference along with new boy Ryan Stevenson