Riabovas set to take over caretaker role at Tynecastle

HEARTS are preparing to name a caretaker coach in place of their caretaker coach with Eujenijus Riabovas certain to assume command from Eduard Malofeev this week.

Lithuanian Riabovas is currently head coach of FBK Kaunas, who are also heavily financed by Hearts' majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov, but is refusing to dismiss the possibility of taking control at Hearts as he remains in Edinburgh to observe footballing methods at the club.

Malofeev replaced head coach Valdas Ivanauskas three weeks ago after the Lithuanian requested leave from his job due to stress, but his time as acting head coach is nearing a conclusion and he will soon return to the continent to undertake the necessary UEFA coaching licences which he does not already hold.

Despite Kaunas securing the Lithuanian A Lyga championship yesterday with an emphatic 4-0 win over second-placed Ekranas, Riabovas remained in Scotland to watch the Hearts under-19 side defeat Inverurie Locos 4-0 at Tynecastle.

He told the Evening News: "At this time I don't know if I will be the new coach.

"I came to Edinburgh because Malofeev was the head coach at Football Club Kaunas. I came to see Hearts."

When asked if there was a chance of him assuming the reins from Malofeev, Riabovas replied: "I am not sure at this moment. Romanov can say 'go back to Kaunas' tomorrow and I will go. I am Kaunas coach at the moment."

Malofeev will take charge of the team for this evening's SPL visit to Falkirk, but it is likely that Riabovas will be in place by the time Rangers arrive at Tynecastle on Sunday, forcing the squad to adapt to yet another new coach.

Hearts insisted only last week that there would be no role for Riabovas at the club. The 55-year-old first arrived at their Riccarton training academy last Monday, but sport director Alex Koslovski said the following day: "There is no role. He is here for professional improvement. He came to see us training to improve for his team in Lithuania. He was just observing. He has no link with Hearts."

Riabovas will become the third former Kaunas coach to take command at Hearts if he succeeds Malofeev. Both Ivanauskas and Malofeev arrived in Gorgie following spells in Lithuania, and it appears Romanov has no wish to change from his favoured promote-from-within philosophy.

Meanwhile, Takis Fyssas has been included in the Greek squad for the friendly with France on Wednesday night.

Taken from the Scotsman