GIVE ME RUDI CASH TO SPEND

VALDAS IVANAUSKAS has pleaded with Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov to let him splash the Rudi Skacel cash.

Czech midfielder Skacel sealed his £1.6million switch to Southampton yesterday and the Tynecastle boss wants to invest that money in the side.

The 27-year-old was a key figure last season as the Jambos won the Scottish Cup and claimed a Champions League place.

And Ivanauskas knows they must find a quality replacement.

After the 2-1 opening-day win at Dumfermline, the Hearts gaffer said: "I said in pre-season we need options and now I expect to be given the money.

"It's a long and difficult season and we need players. If you saw the bench today we only had Ibrahim Tall as defensive or midfield cover.

"Rudi was a top man for us but he's a Southampton player now and I wish him good luck."

Saints boss George Burley has been tracking Skacel all summer and the former Jambos gaffer was delighted to finally land him.

He said: "Rudi did fantastically well when I was at Hearts.

"He is good at set-plays and always likely to score.

"Sometimes in football these things take time - but I'm sure Rudi will be worth the wait.

"To win promotion you need players who can score from all over the pitch. I'm confident he can get into double figures from midfield."

Hearts striker Michal Pospisil, who scored the winner against the Pars, was sad to see his countryman leave. And he also called for the Skacel money to be ploughed back into the first-team squad.

Pospisil said: "It's a pity Rudi has left and we MUST replace him.

"The team will miss him - he scored 17 goals last season and had lots of assists.

"It's up to the board but in some places we are weak. We have to buy players in key areas."

Hearts should add a defender this week in the shape of Greek star Hristos Karipidis whose transfer from PAOK Salonika finally looks set to go through.

Ivanauskas said: "There is not a problem. In the next few days we will know 100 per cent if he is coming but it looks good."

Taken from the Sunday Mail