Pressley insists Hearts will remain focused for fans

April 28 2006

STEVEN Pressley, the Hearts captain, yesterday declined to be drawn into the debate about Andy Webster or comment on the Lithuanian new-age therapist now working with the club and insisted that the Tynecastle dressing room would remain united.

Speaking at an SPFA open day at Hampden, aimed at providing better education and employment prospects to assist players when their careers end, Pressley said: "As a dressing room, we've shown our unity throughout the season and that will go on. There are two-and-a-half weeks remaining in the season and we could make history by achieving Champions League football and winning the Scottish Cup.

"We have to remain focused. We want to repay the supporters' loyalty with success."

Pressley praised the contribution of Valdas Ivanuaskas since taking over as interim head coach and said he believed the Lithuanian was now a strong contender for the permanent post this summer.

Commenting on the four-point gap between Hearts and third-placed Rangers, he added: "There is a pressure on us but it's a good one. Look at the pressure the Livingston and Dunfermline players had to endure last weekend.

"Not only were their livelihoods at stake but also those of other employees of the club. That's a big burden to carry. I think we have to win the remaining three games and we have the players to do so. Celtic are deserving champions but they'll hold no fears for us on Sunday."

Meanwhile, Ivanauskas met with Oliver Finlay, the Hearts physiotherapist, yesterday to re-assure him that he still had a major role to play at the club.

It was revealed yesterday that Vladimir Romanov, the club owner, had brought alternative therapists from Lithuania. One woman therapist, known only as Rima, has been at the club's Riccarton training base and has been working with selected players. The club have emphatically denied that the therapists now had major influence and had been involved in the decision to omit Edgaras Jankauskas from last weekend's Edinburgh derby, as his mind was not right.

Hearts believe the therapists' role is to complement existing medical and physio expertise at the club. However, their arrival has caused disquiet among existing staff to the extent that there were question marks over Finlay's future role in the light of their increased influence.

Ivanauskas, speaking after a meeting with Finlay yesterday morning, said the final say on matters of the players' fitness rested with him and his Scottish-based staff.

The interim coach said: "I talked with Oliver today about Steven [Pressley] because we need to know if he will be available. It is unclear and we will see if he can train.

"We have Oliver and his team dealing with every medical situation. Oliver is the boss on the medical side. He has the final say on things. He can explain everything and he has his medical team helping him."

Pressley has not trained this week, and if he fails to pass a fitness test, the club will continue to use Ibrahim Tall and Christophe Berra in the centre of defence for the match against Celtic. Reports that the club will bring in contract rebel Webster as cover appear premature, considering Romanov has put the player on the transfer list and said he would not play for the club again.

Ivanauskas added: "I don't know about Webster. There are still three days until the Celtic match so we need to wait. I cannot say what the team will be until nearer the time."

Hearts officials maintained their stance that any services the club laid on for the players remained confidential.

Taken from the Herald