VELICKA: KAUNAS WOULD CUT IT IN SPL

HEARTS striker Andrius Velicka reckons his former club FC Kaunas would easily make the top six in the SPL.

The Tynecastle outfit have been ripped apart this season with a reported split in the dressing room between the Lithuanian contingency and the Scots.

And Lithuanian Player of the Year Velicka, left, has turned up the heat, insisting Vladimir Romanov's other club would easily hold their own in Scotland's top flight.

The 27-year-old, said: "I am happy with Hearts - everything is going well. Scottish football can be tough and physical, but I like it when it is like that.

"I know there have been problems between the fans and some of the Lithuanians, but I think they like me as I have been scoring some goals.

"As for Kaunas, I am sure they could hold their own in Scotland and easily become a top six side."

Meanwhile, Hearts supporters today called for unity following head coach Valdas Ivanauskas' return.

The Lithuanian's six-week break due to stress has been overshadowed by unrest with Steven Pressley's shock omission for two games and some fans taking their anger out on the club's Lithuanian contingent, most notably Saul Mikoliunas and Nerijus Barasa.

Derek Watson, secretary of the Hearts Supporters' Trust, says it's time for the fans to start pulling in the same direction.

He said: "I think it's time to put on a united front and hope things start improving.

"Things went well in the meeting with Vladimir Romanov last week and it's a good indication that he sat down with the fans to hear our thoughts."

Taken from the Daily Record