GORDON STAYS AS HEARTS SKIPPER

By Gavin McCafferty, PA Sport

Craig Gordon remains Hearts captain following an internal disciplinary hearing but his union representative admits he is uncertain over the club's next move.

The Scotland 'keeper flanked his predecessor Steven Pressley when the then skipper criticised the way the club was being run under majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov.

Pressley left the club on December 9 and midfielder Paul Hartley was omitted from the starting line-up on Saturday, two days after attending a hearing over his support for the statement.

Scottish Professional Footballers' Association secretary Fraser Wishart accompanied Gordon at a 40-minute meeting with club officials at Tynecastle this morning.

The 23-year-old did not comment after the talks but Wishart confirmed he had suffered no immediate recriminations.

Wishart said: "Craig is captain of Hearts Football Club and will be playing, I am sure, at the weekend."

However, the former Hearts full-back was unable to give details on the confidential meeting or reveal whether the matter was close to a conclusion.

He added: "Craig Gordon was called to a meeting by the club. He was happy to come along and answer a few questions and the detail of that will have to remain confidential.

"He is a player and is club captain, there is nothing that has come out of today's meeting that is specific. It's in the hands of the club and we'll see where we go from here.

"Procedures may go forward and may not go forward. It's uncertain.

"I can't go into any detail of what was said today but I'm sure if you speak to any employment lawyer they will tell you exactly the same.

"Procedures will be followed and we will hear in due course from the club."

Gordon was appointed captain on Friday and said after the 1-0 defeat by Aberdeen the following day that he did not expect to lose his place.

Wishart said: "He's quite happy, he is captain of Heart of Midlothian Football Club.

"He is looking forward to the games coming up, he's going to have a big derby game in a week on Tuesday and I think he is quite honoured to be captain.

"I don't think he has had any problems in recent weeks. He's here today but that doesn't mean there's problems."

Pressley is not expected to announce a decision on his future before the end of the week, with Celtic and Southampton among the clubs interested in his services.

The Scotland defender read a statement to the media on October 27 revealing "significant unrest" in the dressing room.

Romanov had earlier arrived at the Jambos' Riccarton training ground and threatened to sell his players if they could not beat Dunfermline the following day.

Pressley said: "I have tried along with the coaching staff and certain colleagues to implement the correct values and disciplines, but it has become an impossible task.

"There is only so much a coaching staff, a captain and certain colleagues can do without the full backing, direction and coherence of the manager and those running the football club."

Wishart did not go into details of the talks, which came four days after Gordon was appointed club captain.

He replaced Pressley, who left the club on December 9, six weeks after revealing "significant unrest" in the dressing room over majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov's turbulent reign.

Paul Hartley, who also flanked Pressley during the October 27 media conference, had a similar meeting with club officials last week.

The Scotland midfielder was then left out of the starting line up for the 1-0 defeat at Aberdeen on Saturday.

Gordon sped away in his car without making any comment, but Wishart spoke to the waiting media.

He said: "What was discussed today is absolutely confidential.

"Comparing Steven Pressley with Paul Hartley or Craig Gordon is wrong.

"I cannot go into the situation, it was individual hearings at every opportunity.

"Craig will go on I'm sure and have a long and successful career."

It earlier emerged that Romanov had not appealed against a £10,000 fine issued by the Scottish Football Association over his criticism of the country's referees.

The Lithuanian-based businessman did not notify the SFA of his intention to appeal before last night's deadline.

He now has until January 10 to pay the fine before he is charged 4% interest per annum on the sum.

Taken from sportinglife.com