SAINTS manager George Burley is considering a move for former Hearts captain Steven Pressley.

The 33-year-old Scotland defender, who played under Burley during his brief stint in charge at Tynecastle in 2005, quit the Edinburgh club on Saturday after weeks of speculation over his future.

His acrimonious departure came after he claimed there was ''significant unrest'' in the dressing room under the regime of majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov in October.

''I'm aware of Steven Pressley's situation and I'm monitoring it,'' Burley said.

''But I would have to wait and see if we could do anything in the January transfer window.'' Despite being a free agent, Pressley cannot sign for another club until the New Year due to the terms of his departure from Hearts.

Should Burley step up his interest and Pressley opts to join his former boss, he will link up with ex-Jambos team-mate Rudi Skacel, who made the move to St Mary's in the summer.

Presley was omitted from the squad for the Bank of Scotland Premier League draw at Falkirk on November 13 amid reports he had uncovered a plot to strip him of the captaincy.

The defender returned to the squad as an unused substitute for the home defeat by Rangers the following weekend where around 200 supporters demonstrated against Romanov after the 1-0 loss.

Pressley returned to the starting line-up for the goalless draw at Inverness Caledonian Thistle a fortnight ago.

But he was omitted from the squad again last week as the Jambos drew 2-2 at St Mirren.

After over eight years at Tynecastle, Pressley left last week.

Pressley said at the time: ''I have enjoyed my time at Tynecastle enormously and will be sad to leave the club.

''Particularly, I would like to thank the fans for their support during my time at the club ''I wish the club, the management, and my fellow players, the coaches and the fans every success in the future".

Pressley joined Hearts in the summer of 1998 after leaving Dundee United and lifted the Tennent's Scottish Cup for the Jambos in May and helped the team claim a Champions League qualifying berth this season.