Digital Twisted
18th July 2003, 06:16
Hearts have made goalkeeper Tepi Moilanen their final signing of the close season.
Manager Craig Levein admitted on Wednesday that talks with German goalkeeper Georg Koch had stalled over personal terms.
He also admitted that Moilanen, who performed well for Hearts after arriving on loan from Preston North End last season, was a back-up choice.
Now the Finn has won a permanent deal at Tynecastle.
"I think it's gone through now," Levein said on Thursday afternoon.
"I've been doing a few things, but he trained with us this morning and he was up at the club this afternoon to see the financial director to get it sorted out.
"But he's playing tonight and everything seems to have gone through now.
"I was in a win-win position because Tepi did very well for us last season.
"I had the opportunity to get one more goalkeeper, which I tried to pursue because I felt it was too good an opportunity to miss.
"Unfortunately, that didn't happen for us, but I'm delighted we have got Tepi.
Hearts manager Craig Levein
"We know what we're getting. He knows the set-up and he knows the players and that makes it a little bit easier than bringing someone else in."
Levein admitted that getting Koch would have represented a major coup.
"I was disappointed not to get him. Obviously the lad had a great pedigree and it would have been a bit of a coup had we managed to get him," he added.
"But sometimes these players with the type of pedigree they have cost a bit more money and that was outwith what we could afford.
"For a player of his quality it wasn't exorbitant, but certainly more than we could afford."
The experienced 31-year-old is looking for a new club after leaving Kaiserslautern.
Levein has already brought in striker Dennis Wyness, defender Patrick Kisnorbo and midfielder Paul Hartley.
"That is the last of the signings," added Levein. "We have signed four players this summer and that's us."
Manager Craig Levein admitted on Wednesday that talks with German goalkeeper Georg Koch had stalled over personal terms.
He also admitted that Moilanen, who performed well for Hearts after arriving on loan from Preston North End last season, was a back-up choice.
Now the Finn has won a permanent deal at Tynecastle.
"I think it's gone through now," Levein said on Thursday afternoon.
"I've been doing a few things, but he trained with us this morning and he was up at the club this afternoon to see the financial director to get it sorted out.
"But he's playing tonight and everything seems to have gone through now.
"I was in a win-win position because Tepi did very well for us last season.
"I had the opportunity to get one more goalkeeper, which I tried to pursue because I felt it was too good an opportunity to miss.
"Unfortunately, that didn't happen for us, but I'm delighted we have got Tepi.
Hearts manager Craig Levein
"We know what we're getting. He knows the set-up and he knows the players and that makes it a little bit easier than bringing someone else in."
Levein admitted that getting Koch would have represented a major coup.
"I was disappointed not to get him. Obviously the lad had a great pedigree and it would have been a bit of a coup had we managed to get him," he added.
"But sometimes these players with the type of pedigree they have cost a bit more money and that was outwith what we could afford.
"For a player of his quality it wasn't exorbitant, but certainly more than we could afford."
The experienced 31-year-old is looking for a new club after leaving Kaiserslautern.
Levein has already brought in striker Dennis Wyness, defender Patrick Kisnorbo and midfielder Paul Hartley.
"That is the last of the signings," added Levein. "We have signed four players this summer and that's us."