PRESSLEY DETERMINED TO STAY ON TRACK

Hearts captain Steven Pressley has assured the supporters the departure of manager George Burley will not "derail" their title challenge.

The ex-Tynecastle boss left the club before the 2-0 win over Dunfermline in the Bank of Scotland Premier League.

It is understood Burley was involved in a row with majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov on Friday evening.

Burley had become increasingly frustrated by the interference from Romanov, who, it is claimed, signed midfielder Samuel Almeida Camazzola without the ex-Derby and Ipswich boss having seen the player.

After the Lithuanian businessman increased his stake in the club to 55% on Friday, the two men are understood to have clashed, leading to the departure of Burley.

The Edinburgh club have cited "irreconcilable differences" for the exit of Burley, who has left the Jambos on top of the SPL without a league defeat.

Sir Bobby Robson has hinted at an interest in taking up the post vacated by Burley, but ex-FBK Kaunas coach Valda Ivanauskas and former Parma boss, Nevio Scala, will be rated as favourites.

Romanov revealed the news to the players at their pre-match meal at the Dalmahoy Golf and Country Club on the outskirts of the capital before the game against the Pars.

The Scotland international was grateful for Romanov's personal appearance but has called for unity in the squad now to build on the fine start to the season.

Pressley said: "As captain, I'll do my utmost to make sure we're not derailed from sustaining a challenge.

"It should drive us on even more because now, if we are to go on and sustain a challenge, it will be great testament to the players and we should be proud.

"The last time we saw George was at training on Friday, we trained as normal and everything seemed fine but obviously something happened that night which changed the course of events.

"We're bitterly disappointed, we really are, but we have a level of responsibility and that's why we continued to perform.

"We trained as normal yesterday and the manager seemed in a very confident and optimistic mood.

"The news was a shock to us all and we're bitterly disappointed because he was a very popular manager in the dressing room.

"He was a man we all respected, he was a great coach, a great man, the sessions he put on were fantastic and I can't stress enough how bitterly disappointed we are.

"During my years in football, I've certainly got accustomed to some strange events. I'm old enough now to know things change quickly.

"But, as I stress, we have a duty as players to represent this football club and get results for this football club and I'm sure that's what we'll continue to do.

"As captain I was very proud to be captain of the group of players because I thought we showed great professionalism considering the circumstances.

"I've said time and again that there's a great unity within our dressing room and a great feeling and I'm sure the manager would have been proud of us.

"We obviously heard at our pre-match meal that George had gone and we had to get together as a group and make sure we were focused on the job on hand.

"It wasn't easy because these were difficult circumstances but as I expressed to the players, we've made a fantastic start to the season which we should be proud of.

"We have a duty as players to perform, our supporters pay their hard-earned money to watch this football team and as players you have a responsibility to get results.

"That's what we'll continue to try to do."

Hearts pair Rudi Skacel and Paul Hartley displayed messages of support for Burley on T-shirts.

Pressley added: "It was an individual choice for the players to display the messages they did.

"But I think that was a clear indication of the feeling towards the manager."

Dunfermline boss Jim Leishman was stunned by the departure of Burley but had hoped the shock news would leave Hearts deflated.

But first-half goals by Skacel and Michal Pospisil ensured the Pars would remain second-bottom of the table.

Leishman said: "Before the game, I heard the news and thought it's either going to give them a positive reaction or they would switch off.

"But they started well in the first 15 minutes and I thought we were getting through that before Skacel scored out of nothing."

Dunfermline defender Scott Wilson will miss the visit of Hibernian on Wednesday after picking up a groin injury.

Taken from sportinglife.com