Hold the fort

VALDAS IVANAUSKAS personally asked Eduard Malofeev to deputise for him as head coach of Hearts before departing for Lithuania on his two-week sabbatical.

The Lithuanian, who has been given a fortnight's reprieve from his job due to health issues, confided in Malofeev in the aftermath of Saturday's home defeat by Kilmarnock when he asked the former Soviet Union coach to take charge of the side.

A source close to Hearts confirmed today: "Valdas wanted Malofeev in charge, so it was his intention to leave control with him."

Ivanauskas also had his recommendation approved by Vladimir Romanov before jetting out to Kaunas for yesterday's meeting with the club's majority shareholder. Hearts confirmed in a statement yesterday that until Ivanauskas returns Malofeev would be their acting head coach, and the 64-year-old Russian admits he is elated by the decision. "I'm very happy. Without football my soul aches," said Malofeev. "The conditions at Hearts are wonderful. All the time they think about the players. They have four training pitches, three grass pitches and one artificial pitch. They also have a big football academy.

"[The players] come to training and everything is prepared - tops, shorts, boots, towels. It's very easy when you don't have to think of everyday problems. Arrive, do your training and simply leave again."

Malofeev arrived at Hearts in the summer, originally as sporting director but work permit complications forced Romanov to appoint another Russian, Anatoli Korobochka, in that position and name Malofeev as a consultant to Hearts. Malofeev the player was a striker for the former Soviet Union and accumulated 40 caps. At club level he played with the Moscow clubs Spartak and Dinamo before coaching the Soviet Union and the Belarussian national side, as well as Dinamo Moscow and Dinamo Minsk.

Romanov, who was at pains to stress Ivanauskas' central role in recent developments at Hearts, said: "During Valdas' 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 added: "It was my initiative to ask Vladimir for the meeting. 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."

Meanwhile, Romanov is likely to have any SFA punishment for his criticism of referees deferred until the next meeting of the association's general purposes committee. Despite a meeting of the committee taking place at Hampden today, the Russian was not expected to attend.

Taken from the Scotsman