Jefferies baffled by Jose stance

Tynecastle boss hoping want-away defender stays

Last updated: 8th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Jefferies baffled by Jose stance

Goncalves: Holding out

I can't understand why he hasn't taken it. I can only think he doesn't want to be here but I hope he changes his mind.

Jefferies on Goncalves
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Hearts manager Jim Jefferies is at a loss to explain why Jose Goncalves has not committed his future to the SPL club.

The 24-year-old Portuguese defender is out of contract in the summer and has so far refused to sign extended terms.

Jefferies had stated Goncalves would be frozen out of his first team until he put pen-to-paper on a new deal at Tynecastle.

However, an injury crisis forced him to recall the stopper against Dundee United on Sunday despite his apparent desire to leave.

Jefferies says contract talks are ongoing and that he is surprised Goncalves is stalling on accepting the good terms on the table.

Concentrate

"I've said all along that I'll concentrate on players who want to be here and those players weren't available," explained Jefferies.

"If Jose hadn't played against United today God knows who I would have played.

"Jose is in discussions with the club. He's been made a very good offer.

"I can't understand why he hasn't taken it. I can only think he doesn't want to be here but I hope he changes his mind.

"Once he's back fully fit we will try to negotiate and try to get this thing resolved but it's up to him from now on.

"Discussions are ongoing and he's been out injured for a while with his knee. In fact, he shouldn't have been playing.

"He only trained for a couple of days but because we were under the cosh we asked him and, to be fair, he was only meant to play for an hour but he battled on."