VALDAS:I WON'T OUIT OVER ELVIS

HEARTS boss Valdas Ivanauskas has no plans to consider his position in the aftermath of Steven Pressley's suspension from Tynecastle.

The Lithuanian insists Pressley's I absence from the club is not a ' resigning issue - even though he spoke of making him a cornerstone of his plans less than a fortnight ago. Ivanauskas was fulsome in his praise of Pressley when he returned from a month off through ill-health on November 28.

However, within four days Ivanauskas had the rug pulled from under his feet when the Scotland defender was suspended on the say-so of club owner Vladimir Romanov after talks with director of infrastructure Pedro Lopez.

Insiders say Ivanauskas had returned from his time off with a stress-related illness determined to be more forthright with Romanov on his opinions.

He has already failed to influence the decision making on one of his most important players in his squad, but remains adamant he won't walk.

He said: "The excitement has not diminished for me and I'm very happy with my position. I don't plan to go.

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"It's a long season and over the course every manager has difficult times and bad times, but it's part of the job.

"I hope my position at the club has not been compromised. I've spoken about the situation at the club with Romanov and we need to find stability for everyone as soon as possible."

Invanauskas was less forthcoming when asked what had changed between his address to the media on the Monday and Pressley's suspension last Friday.

He added: "The situation is changing every minute and every day, but I hope we can find stability.

"I don't want to speak about Elvis. I will speak about him in private if you wish."

But Ivanauskas refused the chance to turn off the media equipment and speak off the record at the end of a Hearts media day where the atmosphere at Riccarton was tetchy to say the least.

Ivanauskas threatened to halt the conference at one stage unless the media stopped asking questions about Pressley and, 10 minutes earlier, Saulius Mikoliunas had given his best sullen teenager impression when quizzed on recent events at the club.

The Hearts coach promised fans answers to the reasons behind Pressley's suspension from the club last Sunday or Monday, but then refused to return calls on the matter.

He hinted at legal reasons preventing him speaking as the club are believed to have drawn up one of their famous 'Chronology of Events' around Pressley's statement against Romanov on October 27.

Asked why he had not forged ahead with his plans to provide answers, Ivanauskas said: "I had hoped on Sunday the position would become clearer.

"It is right for the fans to know the situation, but it has become difficult. They may know more in the next few days.

"I do not look away from difficult situations, I face them and understand them, but after our recent negative wave of results it's crucial we concentrate on the match against Motherwell."

An interpreter flanked Ivanauskas during the conference but Mikoliunas didn't need a language expert to translate his annoyance at some of the questions he faced but was unwilling to answer.

A typical exchange went as follows: What do you think of the Steven Pressley situation? "I don't want to speak about Steven Pressley because everyone is focused on the Motherwell game."

Are you a better team without him? "Didn't you understand my answer?"

Mikoliunas, booed recently by Hearts fans, admitted they were right to have a pop if they didn't think he was plying well.

He added: "It's not a good feeling but I understand it, although everyone is giving 100 per cent for the team.

"It only makes me more determined to show what I can do for the club."

Taken from the Daily Record