Riabovas: I believe I can do a great job

NEW interim Hearts head coach Eujenijus Riabovas revealed today that he has total belief in his ability to turn around the club's fortunes.

The Jambos confirmed yesterday that the 55-year-old FBK Kaunas boss will deputise whilst Eduard Malofeev departs to attain his UEFA Pro coaching licence, which is required to work in this country.

Riabovas' role in Edinburgh will be only temporary until the return of a fully-qualified Malofeev, although the Lithuanian is expected to be involved for a number of weeks and could even be retained in a general coaching capacity by Hearts after Malofeev's return.

Since Malofeev took over from Valdas Ivanauskas, who has been placed on indefinite sick leave, the Tynecastle team have failed to win a match and have now gone six weeks without recording a victory.

A home draw against Dunfermline followed by a defeat away to Celtic and a share of the spoils at the Falkirk Stadium on Monday evening have allowed Rangers and Aberdeen to draw level with the Jambos in second spot in the SPL.

But the incoming Riabovas, who will start in his role following this weekend's crunch clash with Rangers in Gorgie, is relishing the task of trying to reverse Hearts' fortunes.

Speaking exclusively to the Evening News, he said: "For me there are good teams and bad teams and I want to work for a good team.

"Hearts have a very strong team and I think I am good enough to be the Hearts coach. There are good trainers and bad trainers and I think I am a good trainer.

"I have been here in Scotland for around two weeks now, just watching. I know that Hearts have been doing fairly well recently. I hope that continues."

Riabovas, an unknown quantity in this country, will be the seventh manager to be employed since club owner Vladimir Romanov assumed control, with John Robertson, George Burley, John McGlynn, Graham Rix, Ivanauskas and Malofeev also having spells in the hot-seat.

But while delighted to have been given the chance to prove himself in Edinburgh, Riabovas was quick to dismiss any suggestion that he is here for the long-term.

"I will start work on Monday after the match against Rangers this Sunday," confirmed the Lithuanian, who only last month helped guide Kaunas to the A Lyga title in his homeland.

"I will be at Tynecastle to watch the team play before taking over the next day. It is not a permanent position, only temporary."

Meanwhile, Hearts' reserve trip to Dunfermline yesterday was postponed and a new date will be announced in due course. The club's second string will undertake their next fixture against Celtic next Tuesday at Stirling Albion's Forthbank Stadium.

Riabovas is certain to be in attendance on the day as he sets about assessing all levels of the playing staff. He worked in tandem with Malofeev at Kaunas this year in his capacity as reserve-team coach. It was only when Romanov dispatched Malofeev to Tynecastle in June that Riabovas took on the head coach's position permanently in Lithuania.

Taken from the Scotsman