Players kept in dark over Pressley's absence as Jambos reach for self-destruct button

THE spindoctors were right all along, there apparently isn't a split in the Hearts dressing room. According to Edgaras Jankauskas, even the Lithuanians now think that the club is in self-destruct mode.

It was the end of another football week and the beginning of another chapter in a tale that has long-since lost it's comedy effect. With the club remaining tight-lipped on exactly what prompted the latest fallout between the club hierarchy and captain Steven Pressley, which has resulted in the player being suspended, Jankauskas said it was only logical that people would want answers. He claimed that even the players do not yet know why their captain was told not to report for training on Friday and omitted from the team for yesterday's game against St Mirren.

"We hadn't talked about anything apart from the game, so there has been no explanation. We all expect him back but nothing is clear, for the supporters, for all of us. We have no information about what has happened but of course we want to have a clear picture of what is going on. That's logical.

"All season long we have these turmoils and I think the boys have to get used to that. I think it does affect the team but we have no choice, we have to stay professional.

"For sure we have a squad good enough to achieve something but maybe it will be difficult this year because, as I have said, these things affect the team and influence our game performance and the psychology of the side. Just now we all want to push forward and see if we are strong enough to get through this situation."

The manager, Valdas Ivanaukas, said that he did know what was going on but chose not to tell the players or the media. "I will give this answer on Sunday or, at the latest, Monday. I know the situation well but I will not speak about it now. Fans might be angry but I think they are angry about the results of the last few weeks."

When several hundred Hearts fans protested outside the ground following the Rangers game, it was not the result which had riled them. The unrest was caused by the absence of the man who lifted the Scottish Cup for them in May and if he was left bloodied that day thanks to a knock to the mouth, he could be in for an even bloodier battle.

According to Fraser Wishart, a spokesman for the Scottish Professional Footballers' Association, who have condemned Hearts' managerial and employment policies, the union is promising to back Pressley all the way as he "seeks redress by either the internal football procedures or, if necessary, via other means".

The saga is not over and there's no positive way to spin that.

Taken from the Scotsman