Brellier fears he's played his last game for Jam Tarts

JULIEN BRELLIER fears he could have played his last game for Hearts as the price of his on-going contractual dispute with the club's majority shareholder, Vladimir Romanov.

The Frenchman's agent, Maurizio de Giorgis, today revealed his client's growing concern at continually being omitted from the team following a stand-off with Romanov over an extension to the player's contract.

Brellier is available to sign a pre-contract agreement with a potential new club in little over seven weeks' time as his present Hearts deal runs towards its June 2007 expiry. The player and his agent have refused to sign an extension beyond that date as they feel the salary offered was unacceptable.

The situation shows little sign of being resolved with Brellier, a supporters' idol at Tynecastle, unable to secure himself a starting slot in the side.

Marius Zaliukas, the Lithuanian on loan from FBK Kaunas, is currently the club's preferred choice in the Frenchman's holding midfield position.

De Giorgis is anxious to arrange a face-to-face meeting with Romanov to discuss the situation having previously negotiated Brellier's contract with Pedro Lopez, Hearts' director of infrastructure.

But, with the Russian banker appearing unwilling to get in touch, the concern is that Brellier may never again be allowed to pull on a Hearts shirt.

"Of course that is a possibility. At this point Julien knows it's a possibility," said De Giorgis. "Julien is a football player and sometimes in the game they find themselves in this kind of situation.

"That is one of the risks of the job. Julien would love to play for Hearts, but on the club's side there is no love towards him. It's like a relationship, if it is not working both ways then it doesn't last.

"I am waiting for a phone call but I have yet to receive any. At this point I think it's better if we meet directly with Mr Romanov to try and solve the situation because it is no good for anybody. It's ridiculous.

"I would ask Mr Romanov to call me. We are in 2006, almost 2007, and we are in a very socially-orientated world. I would call him myself but I don't have his personal number. It is not difficult for him to get my number if he wants to speak with me."

Brellier departed Easter Road before kick-off against Hibs on Wednesday evening after being left out of the team and not even gaining a place on the substitutes' bench. De Giorgis revealed that his client had been suffering from a virus and was given permission to leave.

Taken from the Scotsman