HEARTS fans are poised to renew their protests against Chris Robinson if the former chief executive does not step down from the board this week.

Both Sergejus Fedotovas, one of three Lithuanians on the board, and Phil Anderton, the chief executive, have stated publicly that Robinson will leave the board, but campaigners have grown impatient with the length of the "transitional period" - now five months - in which he has remained on the board since resigning as chief executive.

Robinson is thought to have been fighting a rearguard action to stay. If he realises he is not wanted, however, the face-saving option would be to resign and present the decision as made of his own volition. Otherwise, the board meeting scheduled for next Monday is the obvious opportunity for the club to bring the Robinson era to a complete close.

Prominent members of the Save Our Hearts umbrella group are adamant that they will not rest until Robinson either resigns or is voted off the board by his fellow-directors. "We're not going to go away," said Iain Macleod, an active member of the campaign.

"Getting Robinson to step down as chief executive was just stage one. Maybe he hoped we'd lose sight of the fact that he's still there, but we haven't, and the fight will continue until he's gone from the board."

Macleod added that the planned demonstrations would be against Robinson only, and not against the rest of the board. "This is a new era for the club. We're happy with the new directors and the plans of [principal shareholder] Vladimir Romanov, and we're happy with the appointment of George Burley as manager.

"But the new era can't begin properly until Robinson goes - he is the one remaining fly in the ointment."

A Hearts official said that sales of season tickets were going "well", but accepted that some supporters had made it clear to the club they would not buy one while Robinson remained on the board.

Meanwhile, Hearts manager George Burley has warned Andy Webster that the club will not be forced into selling him to Rangers. Webster, 23, will again be a notable absentee tonight when Hearts complete their two game tour of Ireland against Bray Wanderers. The Scotland defender is unhappy at his club's stance of blocking any potential move to the champions, although no formal bid has yet been launched by Ibrox.

Burley said: "Football is a team game, and I'm not going to fall out with individuals. I want the player to stay, but this club won't be held to ransom. We must and will do what is best for Hearts. Andy is a good professional but he has had his head turned, which is disappointing."

• Hibernian have completed the signing of Polish goalkeeper Zbigniew Malkowski from Feyenoord. The 27-year-old has penned a two-year deal with the Edinburgh club after impressing on trial.

Taken from the Scotsman