The future of Valdas Ivanauskas remains uncertain as the Edinburgh derby looms. Ed Hodge reports

In a season that threatens to unravel more as each turbulent week passes, Hearts now stand at a crossroads.

Under the temporary charge of the passionate, non-English speaking Russian, Eduard Malofeev, they can resurrect their stuttering season by uniting both on and off the pitch to produce consistent results, or, after Steven Pressley’s prepared statement threatened open revolt against the meddling of owner Vladimir Romanov, they can completely implode and fall from further grace in both the SPL and the CIS Cup.

If midfielder Paul Hartley, who sat stone-faced beside Pressley as his captain read out those dramatic words at Riccarton, is to be believed, the former can be achieved.

Ahead of a crunch two-week spell for the Gorgie outfit, that began with yesterday’s loss to league leaders Celtic, Hartley is determined that the players will finally let their feet do the talking.

With Valdas Ivanauaskas’s “sick-leave”seemingly likely to be extended beyond Wednesday’s CIS Cup quarter-final against Hibs at Easter Road, Hartley is re-focusing under the remarkable 64-year-old figure of Malofeev.

If the former Soviet Union striker’s methods may border on the bizarre – apparently involving wheelbarrow and piggy-back races – Hartley can’t knock his enthusiasm or determination to take the club forward in yet more trying times.

Now he has called on the dressing-room, including the often criticised foreign contingent, to deliver results at an ever-important time.

“It could be a defining month for the season,” Hartley said. “We’ve got the Old Firm twice, with Falkirk in between and a cup quarter-final. It’s a big month for the club and it’s very important we get good results in the games as it can make your season.

“There has been nothing said this week with regard to last week, we didn’t expect a response. We made our point on the Friday and that’s it. We said things that had to be said, it’s done now and hopefully we get on with playing football now and trying to win games.”

Moscow-born Malofeev, notable for helping the Soviet Union reach the World Cup semi-finals in England in 1966, has been thrust into the limelight in Ivanauskas’s absence.

His lack of English is often thought to have already made communication difficult, but Hartley, who quipped that his Russian is coming on, refutes that suggestion in a new show of support for the caretaker coach.

He added: “I don’t think training has changed. The new coach has new ideas, training has been very hard but enjoyable. He has different views to Valdas and other managers but it’s been really good and positive.

“He’s very passionate and enthusiastic for the game, very unique. People talk about the language barrier, but we’ve got an interpreter in the dressing room and some of the lads speak Russian anyway, so it’s not a problem.”

After the high of helping Hearts land the Scottish Cup last season – their first trophy in eight years – Hartley craves more silverware. The Tynecastle side haven’t won at Easter Road since November 2002 but the ex-Hibs player would love to spoil John Collins’s first derby in charge to book a semi-final spot.

“Our record isn’t very good at Easter Road over the last three or four years,” he said. “I don’t really know why that is but hopefully we can get a positive result there. We played them a couple of weeks ago and were probably fortunate to get a 2-2 result. John Collins will give Hibs a lift, he was a player we’ve all admired: he was such a talented player. He’s a big name, it’s a terrific appointment, but it’s about what we do.”

Malofeev, speaking loudly through an interpreter, became increasingly red-faced as he spent over 75 minutes with the assembled media on Friday.

A prolific coach with Dinamo Minsk – he led them to the league title in 1982, aged just 39 – and with the Soviet national team, his desire to succeed in Edinburgh is increasingly evident.

A strongly religious man, Malofeev said: “The most important thing is results, to bring unity to the team, improve fitness and tactics and not seek disappointment in each another. There is always unrest in any team, this can be justified. But I must make the team strive for good results.

“I would be glad to win titles with Hearts, that would be among some of my greatest achievements, and I’m going to strive for it, if I’m allowed to.”

The entire Hearts faithful no doubt echo the same belief – however long Malofeev is in charge.

Taken from the Sunday Herald