MALOFEEV: I'M THE MAN TO PULL IT ALL TOGETHER

GUTTED Hearts coach Eduard Malofeev last night insisted he is still the man to bring unity to a divided Tynecastle.

The 64-year-old Russian has yet to win a game since taking charge of the Jambos during Valdas Ivanauskas' leave of absence.

He followed up the dismal 1-1 draw at home to Dunfermline last week with a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat at Parkhead yesterday as Hearts slipped 13 points behind SPL leaders Celtic.

But despite watching his side throw away a 1-0 lead with just five minutes left Malofeev insists he can turn things around.

The Jambos are a club in turmoil after the public spat between owner Vladimir Romanov and some of his players last week. Vlad threatened to sell the entire team if they didn't beat the Pars while skipper Steven Pressley led a protest about the running of the club.

But Malofeev said: "The biggest thing I want to achieve is to get unity.

"I will be in this job for the length of time God gives me. If you believe Romanov is God you're not taking me seriously. I always admire people who show honesty, integrity and sincerity. So how can I not like the players for doing what they did - they're patriots for their team."

Malofeev speaks no English but insists he has no problems communicating.

He said: "I tell everything to the translator who tells the other coaches then the players. They understand my methods.

"I'm fit enough to demonstrate all the exercises so sometimes you don't need words. I heard Paul Hartley has called me a unique coach. If that's true I'm proud."

Malofeev (far right with Romanov) has played for and coached teams at the World Cup Finals but hopes his greatest success is still to come. He scored three goals at the 1966 World Cup then coached his country at the 1986 Finals. But Malofeev regrets not achieving MORE.

He said: "I didn't win the World Cup, a European Championships or a European Cup. I still have things to achieve. Winning the league and cups at Hearts would make me glad."

Taken from the Sunday Mail