Going up?

Upheaval, Vladimir Romanov’s interference in team selection, all to play for in the race for second spot. It’s been some season for Hearts but Steven Pressley believes it’s just the beginning. Alan Campbell reports

AT Hearts, there’s never a happy medium – unless it’s another exotic member of the backroom menagerie. When George Burley was leading the Tynecastle club to the top of the Premierleague his refrain was that he didn’t have enough players. Now, there are far too many.

The captain, Steven Pressley, has already conceded as much and only the constant bonding sessions he organises have kept the dressing-room spirit intact. But what the Hearts fans really want to know is whether internal politics or a genuine desire to rotate players was behind last Saturday’s disastrous team selection at Easter Road.

Edgaras Jankauskas, according to the latest official bulletin, was injured and not able to lead the attack, but the omissions of Andy Webster, Julien Brellier and Rudi Skacel defy explanation. All three were integral members of the Burley side which won the first eight games of the season – and if Skacel’s form has dipped he remains, unlike those who last Saturday occupied the wide midfield positions, a potential match-winner.

Fortunately for Hearts, the advantage built up by Burley all these months ago may yet not be squandered as Rangers, their rivals for the second Champions League place, lack the lethal punch which would have taught Vladimir Romanov a very bloody lesson. While Hearts were tying themselves in knots, Rangers were dithering with draws against Aberdeen and Celtic.

With home games coming up against these same two sides, starting with Celtic today, Hearts could yet escape the ordeal of a winner-takes-all showdown at Ibrox next Sunday. Webster, who conveniently injured an Achilles in training on Friday, is likely to remain absent, but if Valdas Ivanauskas, the caretaker manager, selects anything other than full-strength sides in the remaining matches he will not escape the wrath of the Hearts fans.

It’s possible, despite his sometimes surly demeanour, to feel considerable sympathy for the former USSR and Lithuanian internationalist. He has, after all, to balance the demands of an owner who has already sacked him at Kaunas with the expectations of the maroon sector of Edinburgh.

On Friday, when Ivanauskas had to face the music for his team selection against Hibs, he found the balancing act impossible. His repeated assertion that Webster, Brellier and Skacel had been rested in the interests of squad rotation found no takers, and as the questions dragged on he adopted the look of a man in a room with a particularly unpleasant odour.

It wouldn’t take the sleuthing skills of Hercule Poirot to work out whose hand was behind the “resting” of Webster and Brellier. Possibly Skacel too. There is, after all, no shortage of clues.

Romanov Snr is entitled to take the view that if Webster is unwilling to commit his future to Hearts, he has no further part to play for the club. It’s an attitude that is self-defeating, because sitting in the stands hurts Hearts as much as it does Webster, but it is nevertheless a principled, and therefore valid, stance for the owner to take.

What is much, much more irrational is Romanov’s attitude towards Brellier. The French midfielder would be a strong favourite for player of the year at Tynecastle were it not for the outstanding claims of Paul Hartley, Craig Gordon and Pressley. Although he is too prone to being booked, Brellier has never let the club down, and yet even back in August Romanov was agitating against him.

It’s a situation which baffles the likeable 24-year-old who signed from Serie B club Venezia and has more than a year of his contract to run. Romanov talks about loyalty where Webster is concerned, yet shows little to one of his most trusty players.

“I’m very confused,” admitted Brellier. “I’ve enjoyed my time at Hearts, but I have to say I’m not happy about the treatment at the club. It doesn’t matter whether I play or not – I just want honesty.”

The defensive midfielder didn’t have to spell it out, but he’s obviously as sceptical as the rest of us that it was Ivanauskas’s decision alone to stand him him eight days ago. As he pointed out, his 14 yellow cards and one red have earned him enough enforced rests, so what was the need for a voluntary one?

“It was very disappointing, and especially because it was Hibs,” he said. “Everybody wants to play in a game like that. Mentally I’m okay, I just want the club to be honest with me.”

Whether Brellier will still be at the club next season must now be in some doubt, but the player has never sought a meeting with Romanov and is unlikely to do so despite being aware, from reports, of the owner’s antipathy towards him.

With Webster now almost certain to leave the club in the summer – although not to Rangers if Romanov has anything to do with it – further departures are inevitable if a squad which is already too big is to be strengthened for a possible Champions League campaign.

Incorrigible optimist Pressley still believes, despite all the upheavals, that the future is bright. Squad rotation would certainly become a necessity if the group stages were reached, but above all Hearts need the stability of a long-term manager. “I believe this is just the start for Hearts, I honestly do,” Pressley said. “I think Mr Romanov will make big investment in the summer, and that you will see us emerging as real title contenders next season.

“Champions League qualification is vital. If we can dangle that carrot in front of players it will help entice them to this club. If Rangers can only provide the Uefa Cup it gives us a slight advantage.”

Despite the disturbing events at Easter Road, Pressley said that, unlike the infamous match against Dundee United at Tannadice, he had not asked for a further meeting with Romanov.

“People sometimes forget I’m only the captain of the club.” he explained. “My responsibility is to ensure that spirit remains high in the dressing-room. I can’t influence Mr Romanov’s decision-making. It’s important to accept that, and I’m sure the spirit will remain.

“What is important is that we do get some stability within the football club and the sooner we get that the better. Hopefully there will be a managerial appointment this summer and the person will remain in place for a considerable period of time.”

With Celtic having already stitched up the title, the incentive will be greater for Hearts to win today and that, along with the passionate home support, may tip the balance in favour of Pressley’s side.

For an hour in the previous game at Tynecastle they were manifestly the better team, and the captain said: “That was just one of several games we were disappointed in, especially as we were leading 2-0. What it proved is that winning in the SPL is very tough. We feel player for player that there is very little between the teams, but Celtic showed consistency through December, January and February which are critical months.

“We need to prove as a team that we can do that too. We still have the opportunity to go to Ibrox [next Sunday] with the job already taken care of and that’s very important.”

Two

Taken from the Sunday Herald
more wins and Pressley’s optimism will be vindicated, happy medium or no happy medium.

30 April 2006