Webster on way out at Tynecastle

The Scotland defender was transfer-listed yesterday by the maverick Hearts owner, who claims Webster is trying to engineer a move to Rangers.

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Webster, who has contributed greatly to Hearts’ progress to the Tennent’s Scottish Cup final and second place in the Bank of Scotland Premierleague, will not play for the team again this season. The 24-year-old central defender will sit in the stand when his club face Gretna at Hampden Park on May 13 and for the league run-in that could see his colleagues seal Champions League football.

Romanov, who has already jettisoned two managers, one chairman and a chief executive this season, yesterday told the Hearts supporters that his dream is to produce a team he can one day sell off to the biggest clubs in the world. But the Lithuanian millionaire has taken ruthless action over Webster, and criticised his agent, Charles Duddy, for apparently giving Rangers encouragement to move for him when the clubs are locked in a duel to qualify for the Champions League.

“The coach (Valdas Ivanauskas) is not sure Webster can give his 100 per cent best to win more points for us,” Romanov said on the club’s website. “This is entirely the result of his agent’s games, which do not help the club or the player. The club should not work any more with agents like this.”

The Scotland international, who has 14 months to run on his contract, had previously indicated that he would not sign an extension to his present deal. Webster has not featured in the club’s last three matches, despite injuries to fellow defenders. Romanov says this is because the club management feel they can no longer rely on the player.

“There have been statements in the media that Webster is looking for another club. I heard the name of Rangers among those he is supposedly looking at,” he added. “I was told Webster’s agent has made several statements to this effect. For the club, it means our only option is to put him on the transfer list.

“I’m sad all this has emerged so late in the season. If that was the agent’s intention, why wasn’t this made clear before the January transfer window and we could then have a fair and open discussion? No one would have stood in Webster’s way if that was his choice. Instead, it feels like an unfair game with the club and I am saddened by this.

“What I want at Hearts — just like our great fans — are players who are giving everything to the club, not those who are looking over their shoulders at Rangers, at a time when we are battling for the Champions League.”

Romanov added: “What I want is not to stop players going but to create conditions for them to grow professionally and then move away to another club, if that is their ambition. Our aim is to build a system where the player leaves the club at the right time for the player and the club.

“It is a joy and I would be proud to see players progress to super clubs. To reach this, the players and the club should have a fair relationship and should share one goal. My dream is to create a team where every player will attract the attention of the best clubs in the world.”

Taken from the Scotsman