THERAPISTS A HEALTHY SIGN

HEARTS boss Valdas Ivanauskas has defended his club's use of Lithuanian alternative therapists.

Ivanauskas claims mystery figures such as Rima and Pyjama Man, unmasked this week by Record Sport, are vital to the success of the Champions League chasers.

He spoke as he confirmed Andy Web ster could still play against Celtic at Tynecastle tomorrow - as long as he proves his fitness and total commitment to the club.

Most Hearts players have shunned the club's alternative therapists, who arrive unannounced on a regular basis at the club's Riccarton base.

The players remain sceptical about methods which include the use of golden rods by Rima and claims by Pyjama Man their kidneys can be turned by manipulating energy fields around their backs. The Lithuanian healers speak little or no English and are treated with mistrust and are feared to have too great a say in team affairs given the strength of their relationship with club owner Vladimir Romanov.

Question marks have been raised about the success of their techniques and their qualifications and the club's Scottish medical team have also been unhappy at their influence behind the scenes.

Hearts have one of the best-staffed medical departments in the SPL, sanctioned by Romanov, but the presence of the therapists from his homeland is a strain.

Ivanauskas refused to be drawn on specifics, but backed his staff. He said: "Every club has its own medical secrets in the way it treats its squads and I don't want to comment on the kind of treatments available at Hearts as it is outside my remit.

"I do not want to speak about the alternative therapy side, but without high-quality medical personnel our team is not going to reach high-quality performances on the pitch."

Webster, who is refusing to sign a new deal, injured an Achilles in training yesterday and a decision will be made on his fitness this morning.

Romanov slapped Webster on the transfer list earlier this week and said he was told by Ivanauskas he could no longer rely 100 per cent on the Scotland star.

Ivanauskas insists he will still use Webster, 24, between now and the end of the season, so long as he is convinced he is focused fully on the Jambos. Ivanauskas said: "Every player who is fit and 100 per cent ready, physically and mentally, will be in the Hearts squad.

"Andy is an excellent player but in this situation we need a player who can be 100 per cent reliable for the team. I don't want to say Andy is reliable or not reliable but at this moment we need players who are 100 per cent on the side of Hearts.

"If he is 100 per cent mentally and physically ready he is going to play for Hearts.

"This is the Bosman age and every player chooses his own way. There is no pressure on the player to do something against his own wishes but we want the best for Hearts and want all players to be on the side of the club."

Taken from the Daily Record