Ivanauskas vows he will return

VALDAS Ivanauskas, the Hearts head coach, has insisted he will return to his post after being granted a fortnight's sick leave by club owner Vladimir Romanov yesterday. The meeting of the two men in Lithuania, which many had predicted would see Ivanauskas confirmed as the latest managerial casualty of the Romanov regime at Tynecastle, ended with both issuing statements insisting that his absence will only be temporary.

Eduard Malofeev, the 64-year-old former Soviet Union national team coach, will take charge of the Hearts first team for their next two Bank of Scotland Premierleague matches, against Dunfermline at Tynecastle on Saturday and then championship leaders Celtic at Parkhead on 4 November.

Malofeev, who was initially appointed as Hearts' sporting director on 30 June this year before being handed the title of consultant to Ivanauskas by Romanov two months later, will be the fifth different lead occupant of the club's technical area in just over a year following George Burley, John McGlynn, Graham Rix and Ivanauskas.

Hearts disclosed no details of Ivanauskas's illness, although the 40-year-old himself suggested he was suffering from both physical and mental problems. He is expected to be back at work in time to resume his duties for the CIS Insurance Cup quarter-final tie against Hibs at Easter Road on 8 November.

Both Romanov and Ivanauskas were at pains to spell out that yesterday's meeting in Kaunas was held at the latter's request and was not as a result of the head coach being summoned by the club owner following Saturday's 2-0 home defeat by Kilmarnock which left Hearts trailing Celtic by eight points in the SPL title race.

"Valdas asked me for the meeting and I was naturally happy to see him," said Romanov in a statement released on the club's official website. "He explained to me why he required this time away and I understood what he told me.

"During his absence, the rest of the coaching staff will perform the necessary duties for our upcoming games. Eduard Malofeev will take the leading role and I ask all our fans and those associated with the club to give their fullest support to the team at this time. I have full confidence in Valdas and look forward to his return."

Ivanauskas, who joined the Hearts backroom staff at the start of last season, was named caretaker head coach in March this year following Romanov's dismissal of Graham Rix. He lost just three of his ten games at the helm at the end of the campaign, guiding Hearts to second place in the SPL and victory in the Scottish Cup final.

He was confirmed as the head coach for this season on 30 June, the same day Malofeev's appointment was announced, and has experienced mixed fortunes with eight wins and six defeats from the club's 18 games so far.

Ivanauskas failed to appear for the post-match media briefing following Saturday's loss to Kilmarnock, prompting speculation that he was about to be dismissed by Hearts.

"It was my initiative to ask Vladimir for the meeting," said Ivanauskas in the statement released by Hearts last night.

"He immediately said 'yes' to it. He listened to all I said and it was great to feel his support and understanding. Despite how it may seem, the meeting was not connected to the defeat on Saturday. I had been having some health problems earlier, but now it is at the point where I cannot ignore them. I want to be, and must be, at the top of my physical and mental state. Therefore, with Vladimir's agreement, I am taking two weeks leave which I will spend on getting my health back.

"I will return in two weeks to my position as head coach. I hope our fans will understand my need for this."

Ivanauskas has generally enjoyed high approval ratings from the majority of Hearts supporters, who appear to empathise with him despite the obvious difficulties the coach must endure with Romanov's constant involvement in team selection issues.

The coach is also popular with the Hearts players, although many of the more experienced Scottish members of the club's first-team squad have grown increasingly frustrated with the bewildering rotation policy this season which has unquestionably hampered their efforts to stay closer to Celtic in the title chase.

They are issues which may be raised this weekend when Romanov is scheduled to hold meetings with representatives of the various Hearts supporters groups.

Taken from the Scotsman