Kyle Lafferty reveals the unusual contract offer which saw him join Hearts instead of Hibs

The Edinburgh rivals battled for the striker's signature in 2017

Kyle Lafferty has revealed the painstaking negotiations which took place ahead of his move to Hearts in the summer of 2017, involving a substantial £250,000 clause.

The Tynecastle side and rivals Hibs went head to head for the signature of the 75-cap Northern Ireland international.

After four days of talks, Hearts eventually won the battle for Lafferty's signature, but it was far from plain sailing.

Kyle Lafferty reveals the contract offer Hearts gave him to convince him to sign. Picture: SNS

Both parties spent plenty of hours around the negotiating table with little progress, while it was made all the more complex with the interest from Hibs boss Neil Lennon.

“I was four days at Hearts,” Lafferty told Open Goal. “From 10am to 5pm. Four days trying to negotiate a contract.

“I’ve gone in and told them this is what I want. Ann Budge, Craig Levein have looked, ‘is he taking the piss? You wouldn’t even get this at Rangers or Celtic’. That’s what I wanted. I’d come from Norwich and wasn’t going to take this much of a hit.

“It’s went back and forth, trying to get wee clauses in the contract. I’ve got Hibs interested as well. Spoke to Neil Lennon who said ‘don’t do anything until you speak to me’.

Lafferty had been in talks with Neil Lennon when he was Hibs boss. Picture: SNS

“So I’m going to Hearts in the morning again to speak to them and I said if it didn’t work out at Hearts, I’d come across.

“But he’s like ‘you can’t come tomorrow, I’m flying out for a golfing trip’. He’s telling me he wants to sign me then putting me off because he’s going on a p**s up for a golfing trip?

“I gave him my word that before I did anything or if I agreed terms with Hearts, I’d let him know.

“Second day with Hearts, back and forth, nothing happening. I got a phone call to go back again. I could have done a pre-season already! I said ‘if we don’t agree something that’s it, I’m talking to other people’. I left, doors closed, I’ve text Neil saying ‘listen, I can come see you.’”

Unique contract offer

Hearts, however, had a surprise waiting in store for Lafferty with what can only be described as a unique contract with the premise of effectively selling the player after a season.

On the eve of planning to go see Lennon, the striker’s agent notified him of a possible offer from Hearts and that he couldn’t ignore the Tynecastle club after so much negotiating.

Lafferty said: “I spoke to Neil and said I’m speaking to Hearts in the morning. They seem to think they can manage something but the way the last three days have gone it is not going to happen. Everything I’ve asked for, Hearts can’t do.

“I got to Hearts on the fourth day and they have offered me more!

“To get things across the line I had a clause in my contract at Hearts. I backed myself massively. Hearts would pay me X,Y and Z. If I didn’t get a move the next season I’d have to pay them a quarter of a million out of my own pocket.

He added: “I just had this feeling about Hearts. Scott Gardiner [the club’s former chief executive] was there. He just made me and my Mrs welcome. This club is amazing.

“To get things over the line, if I don’t do well and I’m stuck here next season I’ll have to pay a quarter of a million.

“Turns out I had one of the best seasons I've had and obviously Rangers wanted to buy me.”

Where is Lafferty?

The turn of events prompted a fallout in the aftermath with agents Brian Adair and Keith Gillespie left far from impressed with how the striker dealt with transfer tussle between the Edinburgh sides.

Gillespie, a former Northern Ireland international, claimed Lafferty had been disrespectful to Hibs, while posting a picture with Lennon at Hibs training ground on Twitter and a #whereslafferty hashtag.

“They’ve flown over to be ready to get involved with Hibs as well because they brought them to the table,” he said. “They’re at the Hibs training ground waiting for me, texting my agent asking what’s happening? Nothing had been agreed yet but it was close.

“Ann Budge asked if we should get the press out the way so it was all done. I’m there with a Hearts strip on, Lafferty 9 on the back and the stand in the background is being built.

“Someone took a picture and put it on Twitter and Hibs have seen it. So this other agent is texting my agent saying ‘thanks for the heads up, how you’ve treated us is bang out of order’.”