Brellier angry at constant midfield snub

AN ANGRY Julien Brellier has confessed that pent-up frustration is driving him out of Tynecastle as he yearns to be treated like a normal player by club owner Vladimir Romanov.

Brellier is disillusioned by his continual omission from the Hearts team, with other players being asked to play out of position in his holding midfield role whilst he is left looking on from the bench or the stand. He has also refused Romanov's offer of a new contract with his current deal set to expire at the end of the season.

The Frenchman, 24, harbours a belief that he is suffering unfair treatment due to Romanov exerting an influence on team selection. Following his red card in a Champions League qualifying tie against AEK Athens in August, Brellier has started just twice for Hearts. In the intervening period he has had to watch other colleagues assume his role in front of the defence despite it being evidently unfamiliar to them, and for the last two weeks defender Ibrahim Tall has been deployed in midfield at Brellier's expense. "I'm disappointed and very angry," said Brellier, an idol to the Hearts support. "I can understand when Bruno [Aguiar] plays ahead of me.

"I am not saying that Ibrahim is no good because he is a very good player. I just think he is a much better player in defence. I can't understand it because Hearts have very good players for this position. Between me and Bruno, we have to feel angry because it's so strange. Ibrahim has tried his best in that position, against Kilmarnock and Dunfermline, but I find this choice very strange.

"I have to think about the future. I can't tell you I'm going or not going.

I'm not revolting because the situation could change and I hope it does, but at the moment I don't think so.

The way I'm feeling right now, I don't feel I am being treated like a normal player."

Brellier's appearance as a substitute for the closing minutes of Saturday's draw with Dunfermline in Gorgie prompted one of the afternoon's most emphatic cheers.

The player admits to being overwhelmed by the affection bestowed upon him, however right now it is not enough to keep him at the club.

He continued: "I have to think about my future. I have been very happy in Edinburgh. I have a great relationship with the fans, but with a situation like this one I have to think to leave. I can't be happy with that.

"The club can't say anything about my professionalism because I am a very committed player. When I go away with the reserve team, I play my best like I always did. I just think I don't deserve this."

Meanwhile, the versatile Lithuanian Nerijus Barasa will make his first outing of the season tonight in the reserve meeting with Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

The kick-off time has been changed to 7.00pm, and Hearts intend to field a string of first-team players. Assistant coach John McGlynn explained: "Barasa will play, as will Michal Pospisil, Julien Brellier, Neil McCann and Christos Karipidis."

Taken from the Scotsman