PREMIER LEAGUE - STARS SCARED OF VLAD

HEARTS are facing a dressing-room split after Craig Gordon admitted the Lithuanian contingent were too scared to face Vladimir Romanov at their showdown meeting last night.

The Jambos keeper revealed a section of the squad shunned talks with the controversial owner over his interference in team affairs.

Gordon claims they don't want to anger Romanov and put their positions at the club in jeopardy.

He said: "The players will be represented by a selection of different nationalities but it's difficult for some people to meet with Mr Romanov.

"The players that went will fill them in. Some people are in difficult situations and don't want to make things worse. You have people on loan from Kaunas and nobody wants to upset the apple cart.

"We want to keep this as settled as possible and if we can resolve this smoothly that's the way to do it.

"I've no idea if a strike is possible but I'm confident we can get everything sorted out in the next few days.

"We're not going to demand anything - we will just go in there to clarify the situation."

Steven Pressley, Neil McCann, Rudi Skacel, Takis Fyssas and Edgaras Jankauskas reportedly met with Romanov after yesterday's 2-1 defeat by Aberdeen. Club officials initially refused to confirm the meeting had taken place but finally released a statement claiming the players had resolved their issues with the owner.

A spokesman said: "We had a meeting and have found a solution to the issues raised this week.

"We feel the result will be positive for the club. All other matters will be kept within the club."

Head coach Graham Rix's authority has been undermined in the last week but he claimed yesterday's meeting had nothing to do with him.

And the Englishman insisted HE picked the team yesterday.

Rix said: "I spoke to him (Romanov) briefly last night and he didn't influence the team. I had a good chat with him. It was a good meeting but we never really spoke too much about me picking the team.

"I'm not going to answer if I picked the team against Dundee United but I picked the team today.

"I'm confident I'll still be here next week - I'm comfortable with my position. I don't think my credibility is in doubt."

Gordon was big enough not to I heap all the blame for yesterday's defeat on the upheaval.

He said: "We didn't work as hard as Aberdeen and I don't think that's anything Mr Romanov or the manager can legislate for. Our season won't disintegrate."

Taken from the Sunday Mail