Indefinite suspension for Hearts physio Finlay

OLLIE Finlay, the Hearts physiotherapist, "has been suspended indefinitely", a club spokesman revealed after the club's 3-0 win over Celtic yesterday, writes Stuart Bathgate.

No further explanation was forthcoming about the reason for the suspension or how it might be resolved, but the difference between Finlay and his employers is believed to be connected with the arrival of therapists from Lithuania.

Hearts have not revealed, however, whether dissatisfaction with Finlay's work led to their bringing in new members of the treatment team to their training complex at Riccarton, or whether Finlay's reaction to those people is what made them decide to take disciplinary action.

The club has refused to respond to stories last week which claimed that alternative therapies were offered to the players and that the practitioners of those therapies had an undue influence on team selection.

"You can ask any other club in the world about their medical personnel or performance and they will not tell you," said Valdas Ivanauskas, the interim coach. "Every club has its own medical secrets."

In Finlay's absence, another Hearts physio, Andy Caldwell, took charge of the on-field treatment of players who received knocks. Caldwell was praised last week by Roman Bednar for his work in helping the Czech striker recover from the knee injury he sustained earlier in the season.

Meanwhile, Hearts midfielder Julien Brellier admits the current "confusion" around the club may force him out of Tynecastle.

The former Internazionale and Venezia player has missed the past two games. But the 24-year-old does not know why he has been dropped and has been angered by the "treatment" of players by majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov.

Brellier said: "I want the club to be honest with the players. I know Vladimir said he felt I wasn't one of the best players at Hearts. If he has a problem, he should speak to me about it. I asked if it was Valdas' or Vladimir's decision not to play me and Valdas said it was his."

Taken from the Scotsman