Jim Jefferies has revealed he came close to signing diehard Hibernian fan John Hughes for Hearts and insists the current Hibs manager would have been a big hit for the Jambos. Jefferies needed a centre half in 1995 and from his experience working with Hughes at Berwick and Falkirk knew he fit the bill.

Jefferies insists the Leith-born Hughes would have signed for the Tynecastle side and could have become a Hearts legend like John Robertson who grew up a Hibee.

“I think we did make an enquiry about John - but nothing came of it. It was just before I got David Weir,” revealed Jefferies.

"I had worked with John and knew he was a good player. Would he have come? Definitely. He would have come because of Billy Brown and me.

"We would have signed him because we knew him. That's why I took him to Falkirk, because he was fantastic for us.

"The thing you've got to consider is the Hibs connection, which might have made it a strange one.

"That wouldn't have been my concern, because I know Yogi would have won the fans over.

"I'm sure there are people at Hibs who know that John Robertson is a perfect example. He turned out to be a great Hearts man, but if you asked him who he supported as a boy, he would say he grew up a Hibee.

"These things happen in football. Robbo soon became a Hearts man and that's what you always try to get people to do.”

Hughes, however, insists there was no way he would have played for Hearts and would have told Jefferies “thanks, but no thanks”.