Staying at hearts is a full-time job for temps

A HIGH-PROFILE transfer to England is not on the priority list for Hearts winger David Templeton, who insisted today he is happy at Tynecastle and wants to continue his career in Edinburgh for the foreseeable future.

In welcome news for supporters, the 22-year-old SPL Young Player of the Month for December explained his belief that the development of his career will be best served by remaining at Hearts.

The Evening News has learned that Everton, Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic are amongst a raft of English clubs monitoring the progress of Scotland's most exciting young talent. Templeton, though, has a contract with Hearts until 2013 and has no wish to leave as the club continue to mount a challenge to both Celtic and Rangers at the top of the SPL.

"I'm really happy here," he said. "I'm still quite young, I've played in nearly every game this season and I'm happy to keep learning here from the gaffer and Billy Brown. They've taught me a lot so I'm happy to stay here to be honest.

"I'm just happy to keep playing football and maybe in a couple of years if something came up then it would be good to play in the English Premier League. Everybody wants to go there but I'm happy to keep playing here and keep learning."