Hearts fans hit back at hate slur

FANS' chief Martin Laidlaw today described claims that Hearts supporters are discriminating against the club's Lithuanian players as "outrageous".

After yesterday's defeat to Rangers, sporting director Alex Koslovski accused fans of booing their Lithuanian players simply because of their nationality.

Sections of the home support jeered when the names of Nerijus Barasa and Saulius Mikoliunas were read out and then gathered to protest against the way Vladimir Romanov is running the Tynecastle side.
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Koslovski claimed that amounted to racism, but Laidlaw, chairman of the Hearts Supporters' Trust, insisted it was simply because the club's best players are being left out in favour of Romanov's countrymen.

He said: "Collectively, everyone in the media, Hearts supporters and even supporters of other clubs, can see that the situation at Hearts right now is just not acceptable. It is impacting on the park. Our best players are not getting a chance to play on a regular basis. What is most frustrating is that we all know the club has the potential to be very successful. Alex Koslovski says that players are being booed simply because they are Lithuanian and that is outrageous. It is simply because better players are being left on the bench week-in, week-out.

"I don't condone booing of players, but you have to acknowledge that people are frustrated by what is happening. Look at Andrius Velicka or Marius Zaliukas, you don't hear them being booed. It's simply that we have got better players available.

"I think everyone could sense from the atmosphere at the game that people were unhappy and that certainly intensified yesterday, particularly as Steven Pressley was left on the bench for such an important game.

"To me that decision was extremely odd and it also seems that some of the coaching staff have blamed Craig Gordon for the goal, which is just incredible."

Laidlaw stressed that supporters' groups will make a meeting with Vladimir Romanov at the earliest opportunity their priority.

He added: "We are still urgently seeking talks with Vladimir Romanov and the other members of the board. It is the only way for the club to move forward."

Paul Hartley replaced Pressley as captain although he admitted that he, too, had feared being dropped again. However, he vowed to give 100 per cent for the club.

"It's not a thing I want to be doing, sitting on the bench picking up money. If I am picked to play in a Hearts jersey then I will give it everything that I've got," he said.

Taken from the Scotsman