BERTI GETS VOGTS OF CONFIDENCE

By Ronnie Esplin, PA Sport

Hearts interim-manager Valdas Ivanauskas claims he would be happy to see Berti Vogts appointed boss at Tynecastle - with him as the German's assistant.

The former Scotland manager was confirmed as an applicant for the Gorgie hot seat vacated last month by the sacked Graham Rix.

Vogts' tenure as boss of the Scottish national side ended acrimoniously in November 2004 but Ivanauskas, a former Hamburg player, has previously said of the German that "Scottish football was fortunate to have him".

And ahead of the Jambos' Bank of Scotland Premier League match against Celtic, where the Hoops will look to secure the three points that will clinch the title, Ivanauskas reiterated his respect for the German.

He said: "I have known Berti for a long time and he's a very good manager.

"He's very experienced, very strong and disciplined and I like him.

"He did well for the German national team and won the European Championships in 1996 with them.

"He was the manager of the Scottish national team so he knows Scottish football, so of course I would like to work with him.

"He's a big name but every day you hear lots of names who are meant to be coming to Hearts.

"I can think of many big managers who would be ideal for Hearts and who are without a job but Vladimir Romanov (majority shareholder) hasn't asked me about it."

However, Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who was given his Scotland debut by Vogts against Trinidad and Tobago in 2004, was keeping his counsel with regards the prospects of teaming up again with the German.

He said: "First of all, that's not a decision for any of us players to make, that's something that Mr Romanov will decide when the time is right.

"We've got to be fully concentrated in the last few weeks of the season and whatever happens after that we'll deal with it then.

"Berti gave me my debut and my first caps and I'll always be grateful for that.

"He played me against Trinidad and Tobago and that gave me the break I needed at international level and I'm grateful to him for sticking by me in those early games.

"He's a good manager."

Gordon insists the Edinburgh side will be going all out to thwart those people who expect, as a matter of course, Celtic to tie up the title in front of their own supporters.

He said: "I do think a lot of people expect Celtic to win it but they're not from Hearts.

"I'm sure their fans will turn up expecting to win the league but we are going there to try to spoil the party.

"We are fully focused on what we have to do.

"This place is on a high after a good result against Hibernian on Sunday and reaching a cup final for the first time since we won it.

"So we are full of confidence and we'll go through there looking to win the game.

"We've got to try to get the second Champions League spot and that means an awful lot to us."

Taken from the Scotsman