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| <-Page | n/a | Motherwell Dec 9 2006 | n/a | Page-> |
| n/a | n/a | Scotsman ------ Players | n/a | n/a |
| n/a | n/a | MARTIN McMILLAN | n/a | n/a |
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Pressley is left in limbo by Hearts MARTIN McMILLAN Valdas Ivanauskas last night assured the Hearts supporters that the club are "very close" to reaching a solution to their stand-off with captain Steven Pressley. The Tynecastle head coach's plea for patience comes with the Scotland defender still serving an internal club suspension, believed to be punishment for going public in October on unrest in the dressing room and uncertainty over Vladimir Romanov's running of the club. Despite claims after the 2-2 draw with St Mirren last Saturday that a statement on Pressley's situation would be made the following day or on Monday, club officials have remained silent over the issue. Pressley has been missing from Hearts' Riccarton training complex since last Thursday when it is believed he was told of his suspension by director of infrastructure Pedro Lopez. In the meantime, the defender has been spotted keeping himself in shape at Dunfermline's Pitreavie training complex. It was also hoped that the club's press conference to preview today's home game with Motherwell would assuage an increasingly disgruntled support and shed some light on whether the club captain will return. But Ivanauskas would only say he expected a statement to be made imminently. "We are very close to a resolution. I don't have an exact time of when it will happen. It will be as soon as possible," he said Ivanauskas. "I hope, as soon as possible, the situation will be clear. It is right for the fans and everyone that they know the situation." Less encouraging for the Hearts followers is that Ivanauskas' response came in submission at the end of a 30-minute press conference in which he was barraged with questions about Pressley. The Lithuanian, who began the press conference speaking through an interpreter, said: "With all due respect to you, the media, as well as the fans, we have to concentrate and focus 100% on the game, this is where the main focus is. "We would like to assure you there will be a public statement as soon as a resolution is reached. For now, it is a difficult situation and I am not looking away from it. I understand it is a difficult situation. If there are no further questions about the game, it might be better to stop the conference." Ivanauskas went on to claim that reports of 30 Lithuanian players coming to Hearts on trial were wide of the mark. The Hearts head coach said FBK Kaunas, the club sponsored by the Romanov-owned Ukio Bankas, are planning to come to Edinburgh for a training camp before a tournament in Moscow. The head coach did, though, confirm Vyacheslav Hleb, the brother of Arsenal midfielder Alexander would be joining Hearts on trial. "I know him," Ivanauskas said of the Belarus midfielder. "He is a good player. He is a young boy who maybe has a chance to play." Meanwhile, Hearts winger Saulius Mikoliunas insists he understands why he is often subjected to criticism from the club's supporters. "They pay for their tickets and if the team is not playing well they have a right to boo," he said. "I don't know if it is unfair if the fans boo the Lithuanian players instead of the Scottish ones. Maybe the Lithuanian players did not perform so well. "It's not a good feeling when I am booed but I understand." Mikoliunas was, though, less forthcoming on his thoughts about his club captain. "I don't want to talk about Steven Pressley," he added. "It's about the team and everyone is focused on the game against Motherwell. It concerns me, but I am focused on the game." |
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