Vlad to jettison Scots quartet

matthew lindsay

Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov is set to ignore fans' opinion and offload the entire Scottish contingent at Tynecastle.

Influential skipper Steven Pressley looks set to be on his way out after making public the feelings of discontent among the players over the Lithuanian's stewardship.

He was dropped from the side before Monday's SPL clash with Falkirk this week and then failed to attend the match which the Jam Tarts drew 1-1.

And it appears the 33-year-old defender and his Scotland team- mates Craig Gordon, Paul Hartley and Robbie Neilson could ALL be sold during the January transfer window.

Gordon and Hartley sat side by side with Elvis as he openly criticised Romanov's methods at a press conference last month.

Hartley and Neilson, who won his first cap for his country against Ukraine last month, were both dropped to the bench for the Bairns game.

It is, though, believed the foreign players at Gorgie did not all share the Scottish players' views and there have been rumours of a plot to oust Pressley as skipper.

Hearts sporting director Alex Koslovski stated yesterday that Pressley, the Tynecastle club's most capped player ever, had asked not to be selected due to "his state of mind".

And today, former fans hero Rudi Skacel warned Romanov could kill the club. He said: "Romanov has made a big mistake with Elvis - it's unbelievable what he's doing."

Hearts' turbulent season continued at Falkirk Stadium when caretaker manager Eduard Malofeev was sent to the stand for an altercation with the fourth official John McKendrick.

Former USSR boss Malofeev - who is alleged to have punched McKendrick - is set to escape any SFA rap because he is to be replaced by FBK Kaunas boss Eugenijus Riabovas.

Taken from Evening Times