Valdas knows it's a funny old game . .

MANAGER of Hearts? You're having a laugh!

Amid this year's managerial merry-go-round at Tynecastle, one person continually linked with the Gorgie hot seat was that of Valdas Ivanauskas.

When firstly John Robertson and then more surprisingly George Burley parted company with the club, the Lithuanian's name was constantly mentioned in connection with the vacant post.

Given his association with Vladimir Romanov from his time as coach of FBK Kaunas, it didn't appear such a ludicrous scenario, particularly with the likes of Saulius Mikoliunas and David Cesnauskis already plying their trade in maroon.

Speculation intensified over the summer as the former Bundesliga star cut a mysterious figure during the pre-season trip to Dublin as Burley got to know his squad for the first time during a week in the Emerald Isle.

Club officials explained he was working on his UEFA coaching licence.

Rumours, though, continued to fly around the Capital after Burley's shock departure just ten games into the SPL season with Hearts sitting proudly at the top of the table.

The arrival of Graham Rix as head coach has seen 39-year-old Ivanauskas, pictured, installed as part of the former England international's backroom staff alongside John McGlynn, although the man himself doesn't know how long he will be around.

Speaking for the first time since his arrival at Tynecastle, Ivanauskas has admitted he found all the talk about him taking over the reigns to be something of a joke.

"I found all the speculation over the summer quite amusing actually," he said. "I had to smile when people talked about me becoming manager. That's not why I am here.

"I was in Dublin with George Burley and his team and found it very interesting. I am only at Tynecastle to continue my football education. How long will I be here? I don't know.

"Graham is the manager now, the players like him as do the fans - as we saw from the great reception he received at Aberdeen - and I know can only learn from being here.

"I have my ambitions but for now it is just a case of learning as much as I can from everybody. I'm a young manager and this was a fresh challenge for me.

"Mr Romanov first asked me to help out back in March. Although Kaunas had won the league title I didn't see any future there and after speaking to him I decided to make the move.

"I am glad I did as the Hearts fans are unbelievable and Tynecastle is a great stadium."

The new management team worked together for the first time against the Dons, with Ivanauskas an unusually animated figure on the Pittodrie touchline as the Rix era kicked-off with a hard-fought 1-1 draw.

"I believe we have a very good coaching team here and it would be great if we could win something this season," said Ivanauskas, who is also assistant manager of the Lithuanian national team.

"Aberdeen was my first game on the bench as coach and I really enjoyed the occasion."

The Lithuanian knows Tony Mowbray, having been in charge of FK Vetra when they dumped Hibs out of the Intertoto Cup two years ago.

Currently five points clear of their arch rivals after Falkirk's stunning comeback triumph at Easter Road at the weekend, Ivanauskas is looking for Hearts to maintain that advantage over the coming months.

"We have respect for Hibs and their excellent manager," he said.

"They have a very good young team but we think we have better quality of players and this season we have a big chance of being champions.

"Even second place would give us the opportunity of Champions League football and that has to be our aim."

Ivanauskas became one of the first players from Eastern Europe to make it big in the west after he helped break down the barriers by moving from Lokomotiv Moscow to Austria Vienna in 1990.

Having won the league title there during his three years, he was then snapped up by Bundesliga giants Hamburg whom he helped defeat Celtic in the UEFA Cup nine years ago.

He's no stranger to challenges in his career and that's one of the main reasons he is now helping the Romanov revolution gather pace in the Capital.

"I've known Mr Romanov for three years and there is no doubt the club would be in trouble without him," he said.

"We are one of the leading teams in Scotland with a great support but football is a business now and without money little can be achieved.

"We are hopeful we can achieve good things here as Mr Romanov is an ambitious businessman.

"I enjoyed my time as a player and won many things with Austria and Hamburg and I want to do well as a coach now. I decided to come here as football in Lithuania is not so good compared to the quality in Scotland.

"I am learning all the time and hopefully I can bring some success to Tynecastle."

His presence on the coaching staff will no doubt be a bonus for the Lithuanian contingent of Edgar Jankauskas, Mikoliunas and Cesnauskis, the last-named pair having been basically frozen out during the latter stages of Burley's regime. Ivanauskas, however, is also hoping to forge a special bond with the Czechs Rudi Skacel, Roman Bednar and Michal Pospisil.

"The eastern Europeans have a similar mentality and I'm looking forward to working with the players who have come from the Czech Republic.

"Edgar is an experienced internationalist and has done well for Lithuania but Saulius and David are young lads and with a bit of luck I can help them improve their own international careers. To do that, though, they know they will have to be playing well in the first team at Tynecastle."

Taken from the Scotsman