GORDON BENCHED BY HEARTS

Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon was dropped to the bench for the Bank of Scotland Premier League trip to Dundee United.

The Scotland international attended a disciplinary hearing at Tynecastle this week over his part in the criticism of the regime of majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov in October.

The 23-year-old joined midfielder Paul Hartley in flanking former Jambos captain Steven Pressley as he revealed "significant unrest" in the dressing room.

Pressley has since reached an "amicable agreement" to terminate his contract at the Edinburgh club.

And, ironically, Gordon was named club captain after his departure.

However, Hearts head coach Valdas Ivanauskas insists the absence of Gordon in his starting line-up was due to illness.

He told BBC Scotland: "He was not feeling so good and we do not want to take risks.

"He will be a big miss but we have no choice."

Former Gillingham goalkeeper Steve Banks deputised for Gordon at Tannadice in only his second appearance of the season after playing in the CIS Insurance Cup win at Alloa in September.

Hartley was dropped to the bench for the 1-0 defeat by Aberdeen last weekend following his disciplinary hearing over the incident.

Gordon claimed at the pre-match press conference for the Tannadice game that he had no intention of seeking a transfer from the club in the wake of the disciplinary hearing.

The Hearts number one rose to prominence under former Tynecastle boss Craig Levein - making his debut in October 2002.

But Gordon became the established first-choice goalkeeper the following season and made his international debut under Berti Vogts in a friendly against Trinidad and Tobago in May 2004.

He has since gone on to become a regular selection for current Scotland boss Walter Smith.

Taken from sportinglife.com