[LAF]

Rangers are preparing an offer for Hearts and Scotland midfielder Paul Hartley, BBC Scotland understands.

Celtic had a bid for the former Raith Rovers and Hibernian playmaker rejected by Hearts last season.

But Scotland manager Walter Smith is poised to take over from Paul Le Guen at Rangers next week.

And it is thought that the 30-year-old Hartley, who has two years to run of his Hearts contract, will become a target for the new regime.

Hartley had joined then captain Steven Pressley and goalkeeper Craig Gordon in going public about dressing-room unrest under Vladimir Romanov's Hearts regime in October.

All three were dropped from the Hearts side at various points in the following weeks and attending internal disciplinary hearings.

Pressley negotiated his release from the Edinburgh club and has joined Scottish champions Celtic.

And speculation has followed about the future of Hartley and Gordon.

BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Rangers | Rangers poised for Hartley offer