Robertson expects loan trio to sign for Hearts

STUART BATHGATE

JOHN Robertson has "absolutely no doubt" that Hearts will sign their new Lithuanian stars on long-term contracts. The Tynecastle manager said yesterday he believed no fee would be required for Deividas Cesnauskis, Saulius Mikoliunas and Marius Kizys, all three of whom have joined from FBK Kaunas - the first-named on loan, the other two on a short-term deal.

As part of the turnover of playing staff at the club, Phil Stamp and Kevin McKenna will be released when their contracts expire at the end of the season. McKenna, who joined Hearts in 2001, is keen to seek regular football elsewhere, while Stamp has struggled with his fitness and is now superfluous to requirements.

The pair have enjoyed some success during their time in maroon, notably when they scored the late goals in a 2-1 victory at Easter Road. But their impending departure will be overshadowed for Hearts supporters by the news that Cesnauskis and his compatriots could be with the club for seasons to come.

"The only reason they’re on short-term contracts was to see if they could handle the pace and the way Scottish football is played," Robertson said of the Lithuanian trio, who should, like McKenna, be in the squad for today’s trip to Motherwell. "They also had to see if they liked the city and could settle down here and they’ve done that.

"There is absolutely no doubt whatsoever that they will sign long-term contracts. We’ve spoken to Mr Romanov already and he indicated right away that, if the players did well, then they would be here for a longer period of time and I have no reason to doubt that."

Mikoliunas has quickly won over the Hearts fans, and Cesnauskis was an instant success in the Scottish Cup win against Kilmarnock on Wednesday night, scoring on his debut. Kizys has yet to start a match for Hearts, but Robertson believes him to be "every bit as good as the other two".

When asked if a transfer fee would be required for any of the three, Robertson replied: "Not as far as I’m aware." He will have to pay a fee to Bristol City to secure the services of on-loan striker Lee Miller past the end of the season, but is confident of reaching an agreement with the English club.

"We always knew there was going to be a fee involved, but the clubs will sit down and thrash out a deal. Lee wants to stay with us [and] is enjoying his football so we hope we can tie it up as quickly as we can."

Robertson appears to be far happier than he was earlier in the season. He was made aware on being appointed that the club were only giving him until the summer to make an impact, and had misgivings about taking on the job so early in his coaching career.

"I’ve only been a manager for 24 months or so and you always worry. You’re always going to have worries and concerns. But we’ve settled down now and we feel we’re making progress.

"I’ve calmed down a lot. I’m nowhere near as mad as I was in the dugout at Inverness. I’m a reformed character."

Craig Gordon, for one, can see that difference in the coach. "He has calmed down a lot," agreed the goalkeeper. "He’s desperate to make an impression and that could have been the reason he was so uptight at the start."

Gordon has yet to be on the winning side at Fir Park, but like the rest of the squad is in increasingly confident mood, and has third-placed Hibs in his sights. "Hibs have got a lot of media attention, and probably rightly so, but it counts for nothing if they can’t finish the job and get that European place," he said.

Meanwhile, Phil Anderton, the former chief executive of the Scottish Rugby Union, has said that taking up the equivalent post at Tynecastle would appeal to him greatly. "If the opportunity of working with a great sporting institution like Hearts were to come along, it would obviously have considerable appeal for me," said Anderton, who resigned from his position at Murrayfield last month.

"I enjoy football, as I do many sports. To work within football, while trying to move a club like Hearts and the game forward, would be indeed a privilege and an attraction."


Taken from the Scotsman