Skacel could quit Hearts if they lose second spot

Skacel joined Hearts on a season-long loan from Marseilles last summer and became hugely popular with the fans. However, the top scorer, who has 16 goals to his name, has hinted that he will not be staying if the club only feature in the Uefa Cup, instead of the elite event. Hearts are currently four points clear of Rangers in second place.

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Eliot van Til, a representative of the 26-year-old midfield player, explained Skacel’s delay in sealing a permanent move and pointed to the upheaval behind the scenes at Hearts — with the sacking of two managers, George Burley and Graham Rix — as part of the reasons for his uncertainty.

“The Champions League issue could have a bearing on Rudi’s decision,” he said. “At the moment, Rudi is focused on two things. First, he is trying to achieve as high a position as possible with Hearts and claim that second Champions League space. Then, he is also hoping to cement a place in the Czech World Cup squad. Obviously, the two go hand in hand because he needs to be playing well to achieve both. There have been a lot of changes at Hearts throughout the club and that has to be taken into account, so it’s been difficult for Rudi to make any decision.”

Skacel has failed to start three of Hearts’ last four matches, including the weekend defeat at Easter Road, as the prickly issue of team selection has once again reared its head at Tynecastle. Three weeks ago, Skacel stormed out of the ground after being left out of the squad for the match with Dunfermline Athletic.

Van Til hinted that his client is not happy at being omitted, particularly as his World Cup ambitions could be jeopardised. “Rudi always wants to play,” Van Til said. “If he isn’t playing, then that’s selection and there is little he can do about it. I haven’t spoken to him on how he felt about being left out on Saturday. There has been so much speculation about Rudi that he just wants to get his head down and play.

“He is in the mind of the Czech coach [Karel Bruckner], who is noted for being loyal to his players previously, so one would hope it would be the same for Rudi with regards to the World Cup squad.”

Hearts have yet to agree a compensation package with Rix, their former head coach, who was dismissed from office last month. Lawyers representing Rix and the Romanovs — the owners — are still negotiating, although they are understood to be far from a deal.

Rix returns to Tynecastle for the first time since his sacking this weekend when he will be a studio guest of Setanta, which will broadcast Hearts’ meeting with Celtic live on Sunday.

Taken from timesonline.co.uk