Joe Wright won’t be offered a deal by Hearts.
The Welsh centre back has been on trial at Tynecastle and has made three pre-season appearances for the Jambos. Wright scored in Tuesday night’s 7-0 victory over East Fife then came off the bench for half-an-hour the following evening in a 1-0 victory at Spartans.
Wright was in from the start as Hearts hosted SPFL new boys Bonnyrigg Rose. Neilson’s side ran out 5-0 winners, with new signing Jorge Grant opening the scoring with his first goal in maroon.
The trialist played 90 minutes and would have been hoping for further run outs this week. Hearts head to Merseyside to face Tranmere Rovers before another fixture on English soil away to Preston North End in a game that will see sporting director Joe Savage return to Deepdale.
But Wright won’t be involved. Record Sport understands that the 27-year-old has been told he won’t be offered a contract by the capital club, who have decided to pursue other options. Robbie Neilson had said after today’s game that he planned to sit down with Wright and see where they stood. But the former Doncaster man won’t be playing his football at Tynecastle next season.
Wright was set to join the Jambos last summer after agreeing personal terms. But his hopes were dashed after suffering a serious ankle and knee injury in his final match for Rovers, ruling him out for up to nine months.
Neilson has already signed two defenders so far this summer. Australian international Kye Rowles penned a three-year deal after agreeing a switch from Central Coast Mariners. He’ll arrive in Edinburgh after all the red tape involved in his transfer is dealt with.
Manager’s namesake Lewis Neilson has also come in. The 19-year-old played under the current Hearts gaffer at Dundee United, and opted not to sign a new deal at Tannadice, allowing Hearts to nip in and sign him on a free.
United sporting director Tony Asghar is adamant an SPFL tribunal will find that they are due a fee for Neilson. However, Hearts are confident they’ve followed the rules and won’t be required to shell out.
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