Heff speculation begins

Premiership sides Bolton and Blackburn are the biggest clubs in the football world to be looking at Paul Heffernan after it was officially revealed yesterday that the 22 year old Irish striker will definitely be leaving Meadow Lane in little over a month’s time.

Bolton Wanderers have a notable connection with Notts in the name of manager Sam Allardyce – who managed Notts County for 3 seasons and took the Magpies from relegation to the Third Division back into Division Two by winning the Division Three title in the 1997/98 season, before leaving to manage Premiership side Bolton Wanderers.

Former Notts Manager Sam Allardyce Is After Paul Heffernan

'Big Sam' has a reputation of turning players into big names, as I’m sure Paul Heffernan will be in the future. But with his summer spending reportedly to be signing Rivaldo, I highly doubt Heffs will be making the trip to the north west Premiership side.

Blackburn Rovers - another stalwart Premiership side, who have struggled this season - also seem to be linked with Heffernan. If he were to go to Blackburn, he wouldn’t be the first striker to be plucked from the Nationwide League as the Third Division Huddersfield Town striker Jonathon Stead made the step up earlier in the season and has already scored 5 goals that have gone a long way to ensuring Rovers Premiership status.

Graham Souness, therefore, clearly has great confidence in plucking players from the Lower Leagues and Heffernan may well have more chance of First Team football at Blackburn than Big Sam's Bolton.

Division One outfit Reading are another club who have been mentioned in the national media as one of the clubs admitting an interest in the Irish hitman.

Manager Steve Coppell, again like the aforementioned Allardyce and Souness – is another excellent manager who may well benefit the career of 22-year-old Heffernan. The fact that Reading could well be challenging for a play off spot next season into the Premiership after a good run this season, may well be another decisive factor.

And yet, almost unbelievably, fellow Division Two side Sheffield Wednesday seem to be ultimate favourites to sign the Dublin born striker. Sheffield Wednesday have failed to impress in Division Two this season after being relegated last season and are looking to rebuild the team for a successful season.

Wednesday have had a pretty poor season but the prospect of playing in front of 20,000+ fans every week plus being the club's number one forward may well tempt him to Hillsborough.

It was revealed on BBC Radio Sheffield this morning that The Owls manager Chris Turner is very interested in the potential signing of Heffernan.

"He's had a good season in a team that's had a poor season from day one.

Any player that scores goals attracts interest and he's one of a number of players we've been looking at.

The playing squad for next season will be an exciting team to watch.

We'll have plenty of new faces in it and we'll have a good season next year."

Funnily enough, our local rivals Nottm Forest have not yet been mentioned as a possible destination for the 21-goal forward, despite most Notts fans (at least on the NCM board being sure that's where he would end up). Other possible destinations, Preston North End and Tottenham Hotspur, who have had Heffernan watched a number of times, have also yet to be mentioned in the national media.

NCM, will of course keep you up to date with any news on where Paul Heffernan’s future lies.