Valdas steps into spotlight

HEARTS legend Henry Smith today warned that the timing of the club's decision to sack head coach Grahan Rix could blow their chance of silverware this season.

The departure of Rix, along with Director of Football Jim Duffy, comes just over a week before one of Hearts' biggest matches of the season, the Scottish Cup semi-final against Hibs at Hampden next Sunday. The club has been thrown into turmoil, not for the first time this season, and Smith believes that the off-field problems at Tynecastle could bleed through on to the pitch.

Incredibly, the decision to relieve Rix of his duties means that Hibs boss Tony Mowbray will have a new man in charge in the Hearts dug-out for the fifth derby in succession when the clubs clash next weekend.

The former goalkeeper, who made almost 600 appearances for the club, said: "The timing of the decision is absolutely bizarre with the cup semi-final coming up.

"I can't say I was shocked, surprised is maybe a better word because Mr Romanov has done this before of course. Hearts have a major semi-final to prepare for and a Champions League place to fight for and the big money that goes with that so to sack the manager now seems crazy to me.

"The players are only human and there is no way that this news won't affect them which is not good news with so many big games coming up between now and the end of the season.

"I would be worried that there is a very real chance that this decision will have a detrimental effect on Hearts bid for not only the Scottish Cup but also the Champions League place."

And Smith revealed Rix was a popular figure with his players and will be sorely missed in the Tynecastle dressing-room.

"I know for a fact that the players enjoyed working with Graham," said Smith. "I've spoken to many of them personally and they've told me themselves what he was like and everything they said was positive.

"He was very much a players' coach and while the likes Elvis will try to rally them all, this will prey on their minds."

The latest in a long line of coaches at Tynecastle is Valdas Ivanauskas, who stepped into the hotseat today following the sacking of Rix.

Valdas was among those suggested for the manager's position back in November, following the shock departure of George Burley, but he was beaten to the top job by Rix, the former Arsenal player and Chelsea coach.

He arrived in Gorgie under something of a cloud having been convicted of unlawful sex with a 15-year-old girl, but the Hearts players always publicly backed their manager.

Lithuanian Valdas now finds himself installed in the role he craved, although at this stage tempas as he has been appointed interim first-team coach until the end of the season.

Ivanauskas and Rix would often be seen in restaurants around the far west of the Capital during Rix's early tenure, discussing all things Hearts and football in general as the new head coach sought to immerse himself in all aspects of his job.

Ivanauskas said: "For me, because I am Lithuanian and I have worked for Mr Romanov before, people may think that I work on two different sides. This is normal but football people understand my role here, so it is no problem.

"I think the situation is a little better now in terms of communication with Mr Romanov.

"I had to explain to Graham that he must try to think from Romanov's point of view. For Graham it is difficult and I understand that because I have coached in Germany, but it is a mentality thing. Romanov is the boss, he is in control, and in Lithuania and Russia the owner can do what he likes."

That is precisely what Romanov did last month wen it was claimed he selected the Hearts side himself for the 1-1 draw at Dundee United, and the fall-out from that match ithrust Ivanauskas into an almost impossible position between his compatriot and employer.

"It was difficult for Graham because in England and Scotland it was not normal for this to happen, but in Lithuania and Russia it is normal," continues Ivanauskas. "I also try to speak with Mr Romanov so that everyone is working for the benefit of the team, because results are what's most important at the end of the day.

"It is awkward for them when things like this happen. But football is a difficult business."

Ivanauskas bases theories like that upon solid, first-hand evidence. Born in Kaunas, he preceded Garry O'Connor in Moscow by almost two decades before leaving the city's Lokomotiv club in 1990 for Austria Vienna. From there it was on to the hardened battle fields of the Bundesliga, where he counted the former Rangers midfielder Jorg Albertz amongst his colleagues at Hamburg. "We won the championship in each of my three years in Vienna, as well as the Austrian Cup and Supercup. It was a nice time but I wanted more. Austria is a good level but the Bundesliga in Germany is always better."

It was in Vienna that he married and had a daughter, Patricia, now 14 and attending high school in Germany. Ivanauskas is now separated from his wife and, to borrow a well-used phrase, has been married to the job since attaining his first coaching licence in Cologne six years ago.

He had returned to Austria to play for Casino Salzburg, but soon found his management ambitions taking precedent. In 2002, he began working with the Lithuanian FA in a role which he continues to this day as assistant coach with the national team.

A short spell as manager with the Lithuanian club FK Vetra brought minor success that has helped Ivanauskas foster a relationship with the Hearts support, as he oversaw the elimination of Hibs from the 2004 Intertoto Cup. But it was his tenure with one of Romanov's "other" clubs, FBK Kaunas, that really allowed him to prosper as a coach.

"I first met Mr Romanov early in 2004. He wanted a new manager for Kaunas and I thought it might be an interesting move for me. Kaunas are a big club and have been Lithuanian champions six times. They are the biggest team in Lithuania so when Mr Romanov asked me to be his manager I was happy. We had talked many times.

"I was a champion and cup winner with Kaunas, and again Lithuania is okay for football but I knew that a higher level existed elsewhere, and I am very happy now at Hearts.

"Mr Romanov is a businessman. Without him I think Hearts would not be doing so well. Hearts are a big club with great supporters, I love the supporters here, but if Romanov wasn't involved Hearts would not be at this level. He has big ambitions for the club.

"This year has been good, but next year there will be more and then again the year after that. In two or three years, Hearts will be a phenomenal club.

"Mr Romanov will be here a long time and he can take Hearts a long way. He likes Hearts, he likes Edinburgh, he might plan a new stadium here. For him, Hearts are his baby. It's not just his hobby now, it's his business. Football to him is about supporters, players, contacts with other people in the game, and football is also politics. Nice politics."

It's also culture. At least, it is at Hearts. Lithuanians, Czechs, Finns, Greeks, Slovakians, Portuguese, Brazilians. Oh, and the odd Scot or Englishman thrown in. If some of the supporters, or indeed any member of the club's youth side, finds the multi- national nature of the first-team squad off-putting, they should spend half an hour in the company of Ivanauskas.

"Personally, I am used to many different cultures and countries, like Austria, Germany, Lithuania and now Scotland. I have seen many different and interesting things in my life and being here allows me to broaden my own horizons.

"We have many different nationalities, which is good but it's also difficult. So many languages make it not easy, and also mentally it can be demanding whether you are a Portuguese player, a Czech, a Lithuanian, or a Scottish or English player.

"It's the same in Germany. Football is the best game in the world because it brings people together. Mr Romanov will be here for a long time, and that is good for everybody here. For me, I have big ambitions. It's very nice here and it reminds me of Germany.

"Big clubs, passionate supporters, big stadiums, and I like Edinburgh as a city - but I am only 39 and I am ambitious."

Ivanauskas' contract with Hearts ends this summer and extension discussions have yet to take place, although it is difficult to imagine him being viewed by the Romanovs in the same non-committal context as Rix and Duffy. Indeed, an exhausting and mentally draining season has ensured that the Lithuanian will be concentrating on only one aspect of his summer.

"I need a holiday because I am very stressed," he says. "It is big stress at Hearts, but nice in a way because we have had some good results. It is better than the stress you can get if you are near the bottom of the league.

"Our thoughts are trained on this season 24 hours a day. Afterwards we can relax, but we only have two months until the end of the campaign. It is hard because I miss my little girl and in Scotland I am alone, but my life is football. Training, games, that is what I live for and I recognise how important it is for Hearts because we have a big chance this season to make the Champions League and win the Scottish Cup."

Regardless of whether the stated aims are achieved, at least one of Hearts' conglomerate of coaches would appear to be guaranteed a place at the club for next season.

• Meanwhile the SFA today revealed that Stuart Dougal will take charge of the all-Edinburgh Tennent's Scottish Cup semi-final between Hibs and Hearts at Hampden on Sunday week.

The 43-year-old FIFA official was referee in the final itself when Celtic beat Dunfermline in 2004 and was a fourth official at the European Championships in Portugal the same year.

A veteran of seven Old Firm matches, Dougal will be assisted by Martyn Cryans and Andrew Seymour while the fourth official will be Ian Fyfe. The previous day Caolum Murray will referee the other semi-final between Gretna and Dundee.
The Graham Rix saga

1957: Born, Doncaster, October 23.

1974: Rix joins Arsenal as an apprentice.

1976: Makes league debut for the Gunners, scoring one goal in seven appearances in 1976-77 season.

1978: Wins first of seven England Under-21 caps against Finland.

1979: Wins FA Cup winners' medal as Arsenal beat Manchester United 3-2 in final. Rix supplies cross for winning goal in last minute.

1980: Endures agony as he misses final spot-kick in penalty shoot-out when Arsenal's European Cup- Winners' Cup final against Valencia goes to penalties.

1981: Makes England debut in 2-1 defeat by Norway in World Cup qualifier in Oslo.

1982: Part of England squad in the World Cup in Spain which is eliminated from the tournament after second group phase, despite not having lost a game.

1984: Wins 17th and final England cap in 1-0 win over Northern Ireland at Wembley.

1987: Joins Brentford on loan after struggling to keep place in George Graham's new-look Arsenal team before moving to French side Caen and then to Le Havre.

1992: Moves back to Britain, playing 14 matches for Dundee.

1993: Chelsea manager Glenn Hoddle makes him his first appointment, making him youth team coach.

1994: Makes last league appearance as a player and also appears for Chelsea in Europe.

1996: Takes charge of victorious England Under-21 team in prestigious Toulon Tournament. Becomes first-team coach at Chelsea under Ruud Gullit.

1998: April: signs new contract as coach under player-boss Gianluca Vialli.

1999: March 26: sentenced to 12 months in prison for unlawful sex with a 15-year-old girl and indecent assault.

2001: February: Takes over as manager of Portsmouth. May: Pompey narrowly avoid relegation, finishing 20th in Division One.

2002: January: Comes under pressure following humiliating 4-1 FA Cup exit at home to Third Division Leyton Orient. March 25: Sacked as Portsmouth boss with the team 15th in the table.

2003: April: Expresses interest in vacancy created by Jean Tigana's departure from Fulham.

2004: March: Appointed as manager of Oxford United. November: Moves into "upstairs" role at Oxford after a poor run of results.

2005: March: Leaves Oxford. November 7: Appointed as first-team coach at Hearts.

2006: March 22: Sacked with Hearts lying 14 points behind SPL leaders Celtic in second place.

Taken from the Scotsman