GORDON: MY PLACE AS HEARTS KEEPER IS SAFE

The Scotland goalkeeper and Paul Hartley had appeared alongside Steven Pressley on October 27 when the former Jambos captain revealed significant unrest in the Gorgie dressing-room.

Pressley left Tynecastle last week after a disciplinary meeting with the club.

Hartley was left on the bench for Saturday's 1-0 home defeat by Aberdeen after he had also been requested to attend a disciplinary meeting on Thursday.

The 23-year-old Gordon was appointed the Gorgie club's new captain this week but will join Scottish Professional Footballers Association secretary Fraser Wishart for the meeting with Tynecastle officials.

Gordon said: "I have no idea what will happen. Paul Hartley has been very quiet about what has happened to him, he doesn't want to discuss it with anybody.

"So I will need to go in and see what happens on the day.

"But I'm not worried. I will go in and listen to what they have to say.

"I will also have my say and see what happens from there.

"I don't know what is going to happen because no one ever does but I don't think I will be losing my place."

Gordon said Pressley had convinced him to accept the armband.

He said: "Steven convinced both Paul Hartley and me to take it if we were offered it.

"He felt it was important the captaincy should remain with a Scottish player so that played a big part in my thinking."

Gordon admitted he faces a difficult job at Tynecastle. He added: "It's a massive task, but I will do my very best for all the players that are here.

"Hopefully I can resurrect our season and get pushing towards the top of the league again."

Hearts head coach Valdas Ivanauskas cut a lonely post-match figure.

Refusing to make eye contact with any journalist and exuding an air of contempt for any questioner, the Lithuanian attempted to justify his decision to leave Hartley on the bench and again tinker with a team which had won its last match 4-1 against Motherwell.

Asked why Hartley had been left out, the Lithuanian said: "Tactic." Asked to explain those tactics, he said: "Too long to explain for you."

Ivanauskas said: "You saw today Paul was a wonderful player. Why did he not play at first? You have to see the other team as well and Aberdeen is now very confident.

"You know this is not one player - we win and lose together. I made the decision to keep Paul on the bench.

"It had nothing to do with the meeting he had with the club. But I won't explain about every player and how they played."