Pitreavie a training haven for Pressley

DEPOSED Hearts captain Steven Pressley has been using Dunfermline's training facilities in a bid to keep himself fit during his suspension from Tynecastle.

The Scotland defender has been told to stay away from Hearts' Riccarton training base after being dropped from the side following his decision to speak out about concerns over Vladimir Romanov's running of the club.
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The Gorgie club dodged questions surrounding their captain's future at the weekend when manager Valdas Ivanauskas indicated a statement would be issued on Sunday or Monday - but still no explanation has been given.

It is thought that Pressley may have played his final game for the club he has served for eight years and George Burley's Southampton and Craig Levein's Dundee United are amongst those credited with an interest should he be freed.

Despite recently telling fans that Pressley was the "cement" holding Hearts together, Romanov's relationship with a player he has also tried to entice into a coaching role has hit rock bottom.

The players' union - the Scottish Professional Footballers' Association - is running a watchful eye over developments and considering legal action because of Hearts' failure to offer the player training facilities.

Pressley's suspension can run for a maximum of four weeks under current SPL rules and, with a possible January move on the cards, the 33-year-old needs to stay as fit as possible and has this week been seen going through his paces at Dunfermline's Pitreavie training ground in Fife.

But officials at the East End Park club have been quick to point out that the former Rangers and Coventry defender, who has family living nearby, has been training independently at the public park to the south of the town.

Taken from the Scotsman