Hearts CEO Andrew McKinlay addressed club captain Lawrence Shankland’s future at Wednesday’s AGM.
Shareholders and directors gathered at Tynecastle to discuss a number of issues that touched on the club’s woeful league form to Jamestown Analytics.
Shankland’s contract situation was another major talking point and McKinlay shared nothing is on the table at the moment after previous talks faltered.
The 29-year-old is out of contract in the summer and McKinlay said it’s entirely up to Shankland whether he wants to resume talks or leave it be.
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McKinlay’s honest Shankland future verdict
McKinlay revealed deep down he thinks Shankland will depart Hearts but the club would still accommodate talks if the striker expresses a desire to stay.
As quoted by Hearts Standard, McKinlay said at the AGM: “There is no live contract. We have no approach from his representatives since then.
“My gut tells me he will choose to run down his contract which is a shame because he has done very well here and we can be a good home for him.
“The ball is very much in their park. We’d be happy to have the conversation with Lawrence’s representatives if they want to speak to us.”
What has Shankland said about his Hearts future?
Speaking before the Celtic clash at Tynecastle, Shankland said: “Right now, at this moment in time, my contract will be finishing. I won’t have one at Hearts, so that indicates that you move on.
“That’s the situation where we’re at with the club. That’s where we left it. There is no contract on the table. That was an agreement we were happy to leave at that point. Both of us accepted it and moved on. That’s where it’s been since then.
“Regarding the contract, there’s not been any contact (since). I think right now, as it stands, both the club and myself are comfortable where we’re at.
“In terms of talks, we’ll move forward and see how the next couple of months go. But more importantly than that, obviously everybody’s been concentrating on trying to improve things on the pitch. Once that’s done, I imagine we can worry about things off it.