Permit problem stymies Hearts bid

THE former Dynamo Kiev playmaker Alexander Khatskevich has been thwarted in his bid to join the East European influx at Hearts, writes Dan Brennan

The 31-year old Belarusian, a free agent after tearing up his contract with Latvian club Venta, said he was on trial with Hearts after being sounded out by Vladimir Romanov. "I spent three days in Edinburgh getting to know the players, and looking at the facilities. Everything suited me fine."

Khatskevich, who spent six months playing in China after leaving Dynamo Kiev, claimed Hearts were ready to hand him a two-year deal. But his hopes were scuppered because he has not played the requisite 75% of his country's internationals in the last two years to qualify for a work permit.

Taken from the Scotsman