HEARTS JOB IS TOUGHEST

JIM McLEAN reckons Gordon Strachan and Paul Le Guen have it easy compared with Valdas Ivanauskas.

The former Dundee United chief says the Lithuanian boss has the most stressful job in Scottish football.

He claims even close pal Sir Alex Ferguson would struggle to satisfy the demands of Vladimir Romanov at Hearts.

McLean believes Ivanauskas made the right decision by asking for a fortnight's break because of ill health but questions whether we'll ever see him back in the Tynecastle dugout.

He said: "Ivanauskas is in the No.1 pressure job in Scottish football - it's even more demanding than the Old Firm because of the explosive nature of Romanov.

"There is no security in the job whatsoever and even someone such as Sir Alex Ferguson would struggle to satisfy the owner of Hearts.

"There's no doubt it's one of the most difficult jobs ever handed to anyone in football management because of Romanov's over-the-top demands and expectations.

"Management is a difficult job anyway without having to answer to a loose cannon in the boardroom who has already parted company with three bosses.

"It shows how serious the issue must have been for Ivanauskas that he asked for a fortnight off in the middle of the season. I'm sure he'll use the time to look seriously at his whole future at the club. Is the job really worth the hassle if it's having such an effect on his health? I wonder if we'll ever see him back at the club."

McLean has the scars running down his chest from open heart surgery to show the toll football can take on a manager's health.

He also watched one of his favourite sons, Paul Sturrock, collapse in the dugout at Tannadice when he was boss at St Johnstone as he struggled to cope with the demands of his position.

McLean added: "Bill Shankly was once quoted as saying football's more important than life or death but it's clearly not the case.

"I watched Paul get caught up at St Johnstone and those were worrying times because the pressure is constant."

Ivanauskas will miss the home game with Dunfermline this weekend and the visit to Celtic the following week and McLean is in no doubt which game is bigger.

He said: "Dunfermline is a much more pressurised match than Celtic because if they lost to the Pars he'd be even more worried.

"Recent results for Hearts have been disappointing and the club owner has not been patient when it comes to dealing with managers.

"The biggest pressure there is you know the sack is coming. It might not happen this week or next week but you know it's coming at some point."

Taken from the Daily Record