‘It’s a case of deja vu again’

Steven Pressley, the Hearts captain, revealed the squad were expecting the sacking of Graham Rix but were surprised by the timing of the decision, with their Tennent's Scottish Cup and Champions League aspirations still alive.

The comments of the club chairman, Roman Romanov, last Friday convinced the team that another managerial change was inevitable, but Pressley did not envisage an imminent announcement.

He was again thrust into the role of official squad spokesman and urged his team-mates to retain focus.

His expressions of regret towards Rix and the director of football, Jim Duffy, had overtones of bewilderment.

"We are exceptionally disappointed he has left, but not surprised," said Pressley at Hearts' Riccarton training facility. "We had the feeling it would happen at some stage, but did not think it was as soon as it was.

"We had an indication that maybe the manager was under genuine pressure and we wanted to save him. Jim Duffy is a man of principle and felt that since he came to the club with Graham, it was time to leave with Graham.

"Now we are faced with the fifth manager in 18 months.

I desperately hope whoever is given the job is given stability."

Valdas Ivanauskas, the Lithuanian coach, has been elevated to interim head coach and may yet retain the position on a long-term basis.

"Valdas looked pretty good in training today when he joined in and is a smashing lad. He is very popular and the players trust him," said Pressley.

The meeting instigated by Pressley after revelations that Vladimir Romanov, the owner, had interfered in team selection now seems to have been a pointless exercise. Amid the reasons mooted for Rix's departure, the selection of Julien Brellier – of whom Romanov is said not to be an admirer – has been prominent.

"The meeting we had with Vladimir Romanov was very constructive, but he makes the decisions and we have to accept them," Pressley said. "Stability is vital but we haven't had a great deal of that. We have to show great togetherness in difficult and trying times."

Pressley insisted Rix had the support of the dressing room.

"It's a case of deja vu again. We are bitterly disappointed for Graham Rix because since he came to the club he became a popular manager," said Pressley. "Roman Romanov spoke to us this morning and explained that Mr Romanov was not happy with the results and felt that change was needed.

"We are bitterly disappointed because we felt we could have some success in the Scottish Cup and are still in contention for a Champions League place. There was no meeting with the players, but Graham arrived this morning and had the chance to say goodbye. Since he came to the club he has handled himself exceptionally well in trying circumstances."

Hearts play Hibernian in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup next weekend and have three league fixtures left before the split. With so much at stake, Pressley insists the manager's job will still be an attractive proposition despite the club's reputation in danger of sinking.

"You can look at it that way but I prefer to look at the positive. Mr Romanov has created so much interest in Hearts, with the finance he has brought to the club.

"We also have players of a great calibre and we are currently sitting in between the Old Firm, which we have not done for over 10 years."

Events on and off the field have taken a toll on Hearts' talisman. "I have been ill for the past three weeks and I think it is stress-related."

Taken from the Herald