QUESTION AND (AVOID THE) ANSWER SESSION

ELVIS may have the left the building but his ghost hovered over Disgraceland yesterday afternoon.

This seemed to surprise the man Hearts hung out to dry at their Riccarton complex on the eve of their clash with Aberdeen at Tynecastle but really what did Valdas Ivanauskas expect?

Not a word's been uttered by the club following the shameful dismissal of Steven Pressley a week ago so there was no way the matter was going to be ignored when someone eventually was forced to put his head above the parapet.

Trouble was Ivanauskas didn't want to talk about it. Or perhaps more pertinently was too afraid to discuss it.

It was actually easy to feel sorry for the coach who sat with his arms crossed defensively throughout anuneasy 2 0 minutes as he tried to steer the conversation towards the visit of the Dons.

No chance. This match might be important in the race for Europe but the bigger picture is the very future of this club and yesterday you could almost see Ivanauskas' strings being pulled by the invisible puppeteers who do the hiring and firing.

Almost certainly Ivanauskas would have been against Pressley's sacking but the Romanovs rule the roost. Disapproval

While Elvis has gone one fact that did emerge was that Paul Hartley has not been dismissed. For now at least. But the midfielder has paid the price for his insubordination by not getting the captaincy.

That honour has fallen to Craig Gordon who also voiced his disapproval about the way Hearts are being run but seems to have got away with it.

Maybe the fact that he's worth millions in the transfer market to Vladimir Romanov has something to do with that, who knows? Ivanauskas is just happy to have him and Hartley available.

He said: "Paul Hartley is staying in the team. He had a discussion yesterday with the management of the club and he is staying. He is in the squad for the Aberdeen game.

"I don't know what the discussions were but that is not important for me. From my side Paul is important. We know how good he is and it is important he stays here.

"It's possible he's been affected by what has happened but he is an experienced player and I don't think it will matter. It's not easy for the player but I hope he doesn't have a problem.

"But from today the captain is Craig Gordon. He is a young boy but he is a big name in Scotland and also outside the country. He is a big name in the team and I think it's good for the team, the players and the supporters.

"He deserves it. I didn't ask Paul to be the captain and he didn't refuse it. Paul is still vice-captain but in this situation I think it is good for Craig. I don't think it's strange."

Ivanauskas was then asked four times whether he had wanted to Pressley to stay at the club.

He refused to answer before finally saying: "If you want to ask questions about Elvis I don't think this is the right time to explain. He is not now in the team but he is a very good player and I wish him luck.

"He is a big player but now we have other players and it is a big chance for the other players. I know how good Elvis is and I am sure more teams will want him."

The coach knows feelings will be running high among supporters after another turbulent week but he is asking them to get behind the players for the visit of Aberdeen - all of the players. And he insisted there would always be places for Scots in the Hearts team. Big wows.

He added: "How many English players played for Arsenal against Chelsea last week? How many? I don't see that situation happening at Hearts. We have a lot of Scottish players and young Scottish boys who have a chance to play in the future for the first team.

"If you want just Scottish players that is not possible. There are a lot of good players and in my opinion if a Scottish player has the chance to play he will play.

"I am Lithuanian but it doesn't matter. I think the Lithuanian players must work twice as hard as the other foreign players.

"But it doesn't matter to me where the players come from. They are either good enough or not good enough. It's not good they are booed and I hope it stops. Every player is trying to give 100 per cent in every game. Players can make a mistake but if the fans are looking for the negative things from the Lithuanian players that is not good.

"The situation is very difficult for the club and the players. Now we need every fan to stay behind the team and the club. We need results. We need the fans now. I don't need the fans behind me but I do hope they get behind the team."

So Hearts want their fans' support but what are they giving them back? No explanations about Pressley's sacking, that's for sure.

No, the support is being treated with contempt. Hell, not asingle player was willing to face the media yesterday, including the new captain. That's just not good enough.

But the fans will have their say in the next few months - just wait until the day season ticket renewal forms drop through letterboxes and remain unopened.

Maybe then the puppeteers will stop playing games.

'I know Elvis is good and other teams will want him'

Taken from the Daily Record