Angry Hearts players to take action

HEARTS players will hold a meeting at Riccarton this morning after a day of claim and counter-claim regarding major shareholder Vladimir Romanov's influence not only in the transfer market but now in the matter of team selection.

After last night's controversial 1-1 draw with Dundee United at Tannadice, captain Steven Pressley presented himself to reporters and revealed that another day of turbulence at Hearts had left the players in a confused and angry state.

He appealed to Graham Rix not to walk away after the head coach revealed to the players he was powerless to prevent Romanov interfering with team selection. "We are very sympathetic towards his situation," said Pressley, who won the late penalty which earned a point for Hearts last night. Asked if he hoped Rix would remain in charge, he said: "Absolutely. We remain fully supportive of him as manager. Hopefully we can find a peaceful solution to the situation."

Pressley will lead a team meeting today as the players decide on their next course of action after a week in which their head-coach has been undermined to the extent that it was claimed he was ordered to make six changes to a winning team last night. "It's been a very difficult day for the players," admitted Pressley. "As players and as captain we have had to endure a lot at this football club. I must stress we are a hundred per cent behind the manager - he's a great coach and a lovely man. We are fully supportive of him."

Rix was reported to have gathered together the first-team players at training yesterday and to have told them Romanov is now in charge of team selection.

The head coach was guarded about what exactly had occurred, and offered repeated 'no comment' answers to questions regarding the team selection process for last night's game. "It was a difficult day for everybody," he said.

However, Rix did appear to admit that he had little or no influence in what went on at Tynecastle when he said: "It's not in my control guys. Why worry about something that's not in your control?" He denied Andy Webster - the most surprising of six changes from the team which beat Aberdeen 3-0 on Saturday - had been dropped but failed to explain the defender's omission from the team.

Pressley admitted that the players were unhappy, however. "I don't want to go into the finer detail of what happened," the captain said of yesterday's squad meeting at Riccarton, when Rix revealed the team he'd apparently been told to select. "Everyone is aware of events today.

"What I will say is I will be meeting with fellow players tomorrow and we'll discuss the situation and as a group of players we will make a decision on what our next move is. Whether we seek a meeting with Mr Romanov depends on the meeting tomorrow and the feelings of my fellow players. The mood is confusion and we sympathise with the manager.

"The manager spoke about many things this morning. It's important the finer details stay in-house. I am sure you'll see in the days to come that action of some sort will take place.

"What I will say is this: no person is bigger than this football club. This football club is about the supporters and those who have supported the club for over 100 years. Steven Pressley will leave this football club, Graham Rix will leave this football club. But this football club will always be here. It's about the supporters and as captain I have a level of responsibility to make a decision to benefit this football club - nobody else."

Romanov funded the purchase of 11 new players during the recent transfer window, spending an estimated £2million. His spokesman initially denied the Russian-born Lithuanian wanted to extend his influence by deciding how the team should line up.

Charlie Mann told The Scotsman: "Vladimir Romanov has never picked the Hearts first team."

However, minutes later, Mann admitted on Radio Scotland: "I don't know if the team has been picked by Mr Romanov."

The immediate build-up to last night's game at Tannadice had been dominated by speculation over Rix's role and Hearts moved to deny suggestions he was on the verge of vacating his post at Tynecastle after only three months in the job.

A Hearts spokesman said: "It's not the case Graham has resigned and it's not the case Graham has been sacked. I still expect Graham to be in a job tomorrow." Asked if Rix still picked the team, the spokesman replied: "Oh yes."

Despite the denials, Hearts' team at Tannadice had an unfamiliar look about it, with half a dozen players missing from the starting XI which eliminated Aberdeen from the Scottish Cup on Saturday. The most notable absentee was Webster, who was an unused substitute after negotiations on a contract extension broke down. The Scotland defender is believed to be deeply unhappy about his demotion, sparking suggestions he may seek a move.

Webster, who was the subject of an inquiry from Rangers last summer, had started every previous league and cup match this season, the only Hearts player to have done so. He was replaced by Christophe Berra. Webster's agent Charlie Duddy told BBC Scotland: "Negotiations over a new contract for Andy have been brought to an end permanently. We will not be re-opening them."

Webster has 17 months remaining on his current deal. Another surprise omission was Robbie Neilson, previously an ever-present in the league this season. He was replaced by Martin Petras, the Slovakian international signed by Romanov minutes before last Tuesday's midnight transfer deadline.

Taken from the Scotsman