Loyal support have had enough as Pressley is shown exit

THIS is all getting rather irritating for the Hearts support, who over the last two years have been forced to suffer more turbulence than an aircraft flying through a tropical tornado.

Just seven days after Steven Pressley was acclaimed as "the cement in the team" by none other than Vladimir Romanov, he is told he needn't bother turning up for training with his team-mates. Subsequently, he was omitted from today's match squad for the journey to St Mirren.

Enough, surely, is enough. Pressley may well have kicked his last ball for Hearts as he begins to suffer the ultimate consequence of the revolt he conducted in public as the Riccarton Three's ringleader, but his removal won't cure the deep dissatisfaction burning within fans' stomachs.

If anything, it will only heighten the disdain which is gradually building against those in power at Tynecastle. Prior to today's match, Hearts had taken three league points from the last 15 available. Pressley had uncovered a plot to strip him of the club captaincy, was then left on the bench and there were supporter protests outside the stadium a mere fortnight ago.

Now Pressley has seen supposed clear-the-air discussions with senior Hearts officials break down and been told there was little point in him training with his colleagues at Riccarton yesterday. Yet still Romanov says nothing.

Instead, the majority shareholder relies on Pedro Lopez to do his dirty work for him. It was Lopez, who carries the title of director of infrastructure but has also been introduced to supporters' figureheads as deputy chief executive, who met with Pressley on Thursday for the discussions that look to have terminated the skipper's Hearts career.

Quite simply, the bull-in-a-china-shop approach to club management is not something that the regulars of Tynecastle are willing to tolerate for a second longer.

"We met with Mr Romanov last Friday evening, yet within the space of a week it's now another case of 'who knows what's happening?'" said John Borthwick, secretary of the Federation of Hearts Supporters Clubs. "We thought we had turned the corner with Valdas Ivanauskas coming back. We thought he would steady the ship and bring a bit of stability back to the club, and once again here we are in a situation where nobody knows what is going on.

"Vladimir Romanov told us that Steven Pressley was the cement of Heart of Midlothian Football Club. I understand Pressley had a clear-the-air meeting with representatives of the club during the week. Now we don't know the content of the meeting, but it's about time someone from the club actually came out and gave us some answers.

"Steven Pressley has been treated abysmally. Over the course of the last couple of years, with all the ups and downs, he has handled himself superbly and been a stalwart for the club. To treat him like this is an absolute disgrace."

Pressley is unlikely to be short of suitors come the opening of the January transfer window. Nonetheless, leaving Tynecastle, where his image adorns the walls, of the Wheatfield Stand under the title "Hearts legend", will understandably be excruciating for the Scotland defender.

It all seems so needless, especially when you consider that Romanov informed supporters last Friday that Pressley would be granted a contract for up to ten years if he agreed to take on a coaching role with Hearts. It is bizarre and inexplicable contradictions like these which are confusing all connected with the club.

"Obviously there are things wrong behind the scenes," continued Borthwick.

"That's why we wanted to meet with Mr Romanov last week. We thought it was a clear-the-air meeting but obviously that's not the case. Every time we think we're getting somewhere we just get kicked in the teeth. The supporters demand answers."

Should Romanov, or Lopez, agree to meet with fans' representatives again, it is likely that they will be treated to a far sterner inquisition than last Friday's. The Edinburgh public are, unquestionably, now at the point of losing patience.

Borthwick concluded: "Mr Romanov needs to meet the supporters as soon as possible. If not himself, then senior representatives of Heart of Midlothian Football Club should hear us. We want another meeting."

Taken from the Scotsman