Ivanauskas signed off indefinitely

VALDAS Ivanauskas looks set to relinquish his position as head coach of Hearts after it was revealed last night that his proposed return from sick leave has been postponed indefinitely.

A club source said that medical tests undertaken by Ivanauskas in his native Lithuania showed the head coach, who has been off work with a stress-related condition, had improved, but not enough to allow him to return to his post.

It has not been revealed if Ivanauskas was advised to continue with his recuperation for a specific amount of time, and so far Hearts are only calling his sick leave indefinite.

Given the events since the former Kaunas coach flew home from Edinburgh, it is also now probable that if he does return, it will be in a part-time or junior capacity. Eduard Malofeev, the interim head coach who was already in a higher position than Ivanauskas as advisor to the board on football matters, has introduced a number of changes over the past two weeks, which suggests he is not making alterations for the short term.

Taken from the Scotsman