Town are set to sign Hearts central midfielder Ryan Stevenson on what's reported to be a three-year deal. News of the Blues' interest broke in Scotland overnight with a fee of £50,000 agreed for the 27-year-old, who we understand will be at the club today for talks and a look around.

Irvine-born Stevenson played youth football with Ayr United and Chelsea, staying in the same apartment block as John Terry when making regular trips south to train with the Premier League side.

In 2002 he moved on to St Johnstone where he made the breakthrough into first team football, before returning to Ayr United, initially on loan, in 2006.

The 5ft 11in tall midfielder, who can also play up front, moved to Hearts for an undisclosed fee in February 2010 and since then has made 47 starts and 20 sub appearances, scoring 11 goals. His contract is up at the end of June.

In December, after Hearts failed to pay their players’ wages, he asked for his contract to be terminated. This was refused but he told the club he wouldn’t play or train until he had been paid, citing stress on his unborn child amongst the reasons for his decision.

A Scotland call-up in November but without winning a cap, much-tattooed Stevenson was linked with Bristol City last month, while League Two Crawley had a bid rebuffed a week ago.

Stevenson, who would appear to be the type of player to replace Keith Andrews's goals in the Blues' midfield, is understood to have flown south to speak to the club this morning but it's unlikely that a deal will be completed until Monday. We understand Town made their offer to Hearts as recently as yesterday.

Meanwhile, Leicester boss Nigel Pearson says central defender Sean St Ledger is off the transfer list after breaking back into the Foxes side in recent weeks after a fall-out over Christmas: "He is fine and there is no rift. I am delighted with his performances. Is he off the transfer list? Yes, why not!"

Elsewhere, Town target Murray Wallace is interviewed in this morning's HeraldScotland. Town fans can catch Wallace in action for Falkirk against Celtic in the Communities League Cup semi-final on Sunday afternoon (2.55pm, BBC1 Scotland, Sky channel 971).

And in Ireland, ex-Blues midfielder Colin Healy is tipped to return to his old club Cork City, who are one of the clubs targeting Shane O'Connor. Both players recently had their Town contracts terminated by mutual consent.

Photo: Action Images

Dozzells_Bobblehat added 09:51 - Jan 28 On reading some more it would appear its his wife who suffered stress due to him not being paid and he is taking a stand against Romanov.Fair enough i would say. rogie_dog dont waste your time mate the anti Jewell brigade dont care about common sense they just take any article and make it a negative
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walberswick added 09:51 - Jan 28 Not playing regularly for team, check. Dispute with club, check. Nobody else wants him, check. Scored a goal once on video, check A.N. other payer for midfield, check. Bingo! Jewellio.
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Dissboyitfc added 09:51 - Jan 28 rogie_dog. these comments are born out of the fact that itfc are again showing a real lack of intent, its not great being a town supporter at the moment, we want to get behind the team and we want to see signs of real intent, this signing does not suggest any ambition from the blues at all, this guy might be worth a gamble at that price, we need more that bargain basement gambles to lift our spirits.... COYB

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hunty21 added 09:52 - Jan 28 thats really gonna give luke hyam confidence unless leadbitter goes it would seem we are again gonna have too many midfielders atleast hes only 50k
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Marcus added 09:53 - Jan 28 The midfield is part I the defensive unit. Sure we need central defenders but we should always be on the lookout for young talent in any position. At 50K I'm sure he's not a huge risk. I presume there are other deals imminent.
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Marcus added 09:58 - Jan 28 @hunty21. What's it got to do with Hyam, he's a defensive midfielder so the two won't be competing for a place.
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hunty21 added 10:00 - Jan 28 what about luke hyam?
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oldbri added 10:01 - Jan 28 What a bunch of moaning whingers we have on this forum.Lets get someone in from the lower leagues I hear.Oh hold on,he is not a famous player,he must be useless. Give me strength. The player hasent signed yet and already he is getting stick. Come on you lot lets get positive for once.I have been a Town supporter all my life,good times and bad.I now live in Hamshire and do not get to see Town that often.I live near Southamton and could go and watch them but I dont because I listen to the Ipswich town game on Ipswich Town Player,Yes I get frustrated when we dont win or we play with a suicide team but I am still a Town supporter and live in hope.You, that can get to watch town every week are the lucky ones.Give Paul Jewell time to build ,get off everones back and start supporting. Rant over,back on the calming pills.

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Michael11 added 10:02 - Jan 28 Can't see him setting the world alight but with such a small fee involved hopefully he can be a useful signing, desperately need a few defenders now though Jewell sort it out!!
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leicestershire_blue added 10:03 - Jan 28 Before people put negative comments on here why don't they do a bit of research on the player, the circumstances around the transfer and fee. From this they will see a player who has scored goals in the top flight in Scotland and earned a call up to his national squad only three months ago. Think this sounds a good signing. Well done pj. In jewell, clegg and evans we trust. I am sure all proper town fans will see this.

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DurhamTownFan added 10:03 - Jan 28 @rogoe dog and dissboy-the reason we're not spending is because ME himself isn't sure about Jewell (while he has no choice but to back him in public). To be fair to him, would you trust PJ with your millions on his record so far? I wouldn't!
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GiveusaWave added 10:07 - Jan 28 DEFENDERS NEEDED URGENTLY JEWELL! We have plenty of midfielders.
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EatonBlue added 10:08 - Jan 28 (one for the oldies) So, we could have Leadbitter and Stevenson in the team. Anyone know of an Elsworthy or a Nelson?
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lawshallgirls added 10:11 - Jan 28 Come on give him a chance he might be a bargain at 50k because of the circumstances;yes we do need defenders but it's not as though jewels not bidding for them he's Just seen a bargain and gone for it And this might be a replacement for leadbitter who could be on his way in a deal for a defender(such as morgan or the Pompey trio)
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Pettitt10 added 10:14 - Jan 28 Good signing, making the most of Heart's money crisis, not too bad a player either! its only 50k stop moaning!! COYB
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RAH4 added 10:16 - Jan 28 Lets give the guy a chance, also think there is some longer term squad thinking here. In midfield we have let Healy go,lost Andrews, plus next season will we have,or want Leadbitter,Bowyer,Kennedy,to say nothing about Carson or Edwards. We will need a squad to compete and this is one of those moves.
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townietilidie added 10:16 - Jan 28 Nothing wrong with picking up younger players from lower league football , theres some real gems to be found out there . Yeh we all know we need defenders but honestly you should know by now how the Jan transfer window works . There isnt many clubs that will let there players leave before the last game of the transfer window closing . Seriously wouldnt expect any deals to be done until after the weekend . Come mon morning things will start to move along (hopefully) and then we might start to see some serious transfer activity . So many deals are done on the last day at the last minute so hang tight and see what the Jan sales bring us ... COYB !!!

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robboo92 added 10:17 - Jan 28 Right ok he might not be a defender, but i'm pretty sure that pj isn't purposely looking to sign anything but. and just because we need defenders doesn't mean that we should neglect the rest of the team, and the reason that he is so cheap is because of the problems that hearts are facing in addition to the player not wanting to ply so i think hearts are grateful for the money, and lets be honest at 50k he's worth a punt

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Dissboyitfc added 10:20 - Jan 28 i am not a paul jewell out type in fact i am desperate to see him turn things around. but people i have defended him from day one, but lets face the facts here, this is worst town team in living memory, supported them since 1970, my fathers ashes are under the pitch, blue blood runs through my veins and my family, i am not a whinger, these are facts, jewell signings on the whole have been very questionable to say the least, most recent, loan goalkeeper from reading, he had the answer to our right back problems, david wright was phoning him and wanting to come back, no was the answer and sticks with carlos, look at his substitutions during matches, they cost us games, up the road from me , they got promoted following good late substitutions. there has been no improvement in jewells reign at all, apart from the odd false dawn. i am entitled to have an opinion on what i see are the facts, thats different from whining for the sake of it, we are a poor side who are going down, if we do not get defenders in ..... coyb

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Sorry added 10:23 - Jan 28 no use judging til we've seen him to be honest. No need to read anything into the fee or where he comes from - we got Jon Walters from Chester for a similar fee if you all remember. Positive to see PJ picking up players from places other than the stiffs in the top 2 leagues in England. But for the love of all that is holy, we need a bloody right-back.
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glm86 added 10:23 - Jan 28 Well didnt see one that one coming. At least he is 27 and not 37 and he isnt costing the earth. I assume its only 50k to the fact he wont play for them no more so may aswell cut their loses n get him off their books. Never know could be a little gem.......
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PSGBlue added 10:27 - Jan 28 The Drury (pun) could be out on this one! For 50K he worth taking a punt on, I know the Hearts fans rate him, especially 11 goals in 47 starts. What concerns me is firstly how fit is he if he hasn't trained since December and secondly why a three year deal. If he is another Healy we are stuck with him! Where's the Portsmoputh trio - that's the difference between survival and relagation!

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Lanky added 10:28 - Jan 28 You're all morons.
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rosseden added 10:31 - Jan 28 Apparently he's very fit, strong, scores goals, hard working,tracks back and tackles well. All the things people have been saying we don't do as a team. If it means we start defending from the front and have a bit of bite with him then happy days. . . . .
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The_Assassin added 10:32 - Jan 28 He hasn't even signed yet let alone kicked a ball for us and he is getting slated already. What a bright future he has here!!! Good luck lad, your gonna need it!
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