Ivanauskas seeks to restore unity on return to turbulent Tynecastle

Ewan Murray
Tuesday November 28, 2006
The Guardian

The Hearts manager, Valdas Ivanauskas, has set his sights on uniting a club plagued by turmoil and infighting after he returned to Tynecastle from a five-week sickness absence yesterday.

Ivanauskas, who suffered from a stress-related affliction, admitted he had watched only two of Hearts' last six games while at home in Lithuania. The caretaker manager, Eduard Malofeev, who failed to record a victory in any of those matches, looked on as senior players pointed to "significant unrest" in the dressing room and criticised the management while supporters protested against the owner, Vladimir Romanov. Hearts have slipped to fifth in the Scottish Premierleague and have not won since October 1.

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Ivanauskas displayed a strong desire to kick-start the club's season. "We need a team: fans, players and coaching staff. That is the important thing. Our supporters are angry about the situation and we must change that. From the next game, we start again."

He revealed that his medical condition had prompted discussions with Romanov earlier in the season, when he considered leaving football because of the pressures associated with managing. "I love this club but my health is very important," he said. "I spoke to the doctors and they said that, as a manager, sometimes I take too much upon myself."

He emphasised that he had no qualms about Romanov's much publicised role in team selection, which the owner has admitted to already this season. "Vladimir is a very big man for Hearts," Ivanauskas explained. "He wants to know about every discussion involving the club. That is normal in business." Hearts have promoted Stephen Frail to the position of assistant head coach, and Romanov is understood to have offered the captain, Steven Pressley, a coaching role.

Taken from the Guardian/Observer