ELVIS IS MY NO.1

VALDAS IVANAUSKAS has told Steven Pressley he is his king of Hearts.

Ivanauskas returned to his job at Tynecastle yesterday after time off for a stress-related illness and immediately told the club skipper he is a cornerstone of his plans to push the Jambos back up the SPL.

The Lithuanian coach has spent the last month on the sidelines as a result of ill-health and watched from afar as the club was engulfed in controversy.

Pressley led a dressing-room revolt by many players against club owner Vladimir Romanov's leadership style then found himself at the centre of an internal plot to oust him as club skipper.

He declared himself mentally unfit to face Falkirk a fortnight ago but was back in the starting line-up against Inverness at the weekend after being benched against Rangers a week earlier. Fit-again Ivanauskas hopes his return brings much-needed stability after revealing he has already spoken to Elvis about events of the last few weeks.

Ivanauskas said: "Steven is important to this team and this club.

"I know how professional he has been in the game and he sets the best example for young players and others at the club.

"The players spoke their opinion a few weeks ago and it was their right to say that but we're trying now to concentrate on the future and not these personal matters.

"It's not about Elvis or Paul, Craig, Robbie or Julien. It's about our club and our team.

"I've already had discussions with Elvis and also other players and I'll have many more this week as we hope for a positive result against St Mirren.

"There is not really a lot of tidy-up work to be done now I have returned. All we need are points and I hope we get them, starting at St Mirren.

"I don't think so much needs to change, only our position in the table. If you win games all your problems go away.

"It's important now we show the fans we're a team - not just the players but the coaching staff and everyone at the club."

Ivanauskas has confirmed Steve Frail as his No.2 and while Eduard Malofeev has returned to Russia to secure his UEFA coaching license it is not expected Kaunas coach Eugenijus Riabovas will be joining the club as cover.

Hearts have gone eight games without a win since October 1 and have slipped from second place in the SPL.

Recent weeks have seen protests against Romanov and accusations of racism levelled against Hearts fans for booing Lithuanians such as Saulius Mikoliunas and Nerijus Barasa.

Ivanauskas said: "I don't see players as foreigners - only good or bad players. I've come across this situation before in Germany and Austria and it's difficult.

"However, the players who have come to Hearts this season are good players and have a future at the club. We've set our targets for the time ahead - to win every game.

"It's good for Celtic they are so far ahead at the top of the table but we need to start getting victories again."

Taken from the Daily Record