Hearts keeper backs Pressley to the hilt

CRAIG Gordon issued a staunch defence of Steven Pressley last night when he insisted the Hearts captain was irreplaceable and had the backing of most, if not all, of the first-team squad at Tynecastle.

Speaking after the 1-1 draw with Falkirk, the goalkeeper admitted he was annoyed when he heard the team that had been selected and conceded that the omission of Pressley may have been to do with the statement read out last month by the skipper in which he took issue with the way the club was being run.

Gordon said it had been a difficult time for Pressley and his family but backed the player to come through.

"He's captain and has been for a number of years," the goalkeeper said. "Battling for the players has been at the front of his mind all the time. I don't see anyone in that dressing-room capable of replacing him. I think the vast majority of the players, if not every single one, would back him.

"I know it's a very upsetting time for Elvis and his family, but he's one of the strongest characters I know. Of course he's got a future at the club. This club can't afford to lose someone like that.

"He's a big miss for the team and I just hope we get him back as soon as possible. I know he's 100 per cent committed to Hearts and wants to give everything to the club. I spoke to him on a few occasions today, and he wanted the boys to go out there and get a result."

The Hearts squad were told of the line-up yesterday afternoon, and Gordon said he and his colleagues had been shocked when the team was read out. "It was a strange team meeting. I don't think anybody could believe what they were seeing, but as professionals we have to get on with things as best we can.

"After the meeting I was annoyed. I had to go away and compose myself. It's your job and you've got to prepare yourself in the right way. The manager wanted to change things, and felt he was not getting enough from the experienced players. It almost came off for him tonight."

Asked if Pressley's omission had anything to do with the statement which was backed by both Gordon and Paul Hartley, the goalkeeper added: "Possibly. That's a thing I'm unsure of."

Hartley was also dropped from the starting XI last night but did come off the bench as the match entered full-time, replacing Julien Brellier. Gordon admitted that he had been somewhat bemused by the change, which took place too late to make a difference.

"That was slightly frustrating," added the keeper. "Julien hasn't played much in matches at this level for a while and it was always going to be tough for him to last. Everybody thought Paul might have come on a little bit sooner."

It also emerged last night that Eugenijus Riabovas, the coach of Kaunas, is to replace caretaker Eduard Malofeev on a temporary basis while the latter returns to eastern Europe to work on his UEFA pro coaching badges. Asked how he might react to a new coach, Gordon added: "I don't even think about it any more. It seems to happen on a regular basis."

Yet, while that might hint at disillusionment, the goalkeeper added that he was not looking for a way out of Hearts. "I signed a three-year contract and I don't regret that at all."

Taken from the Scotsman