Heart's Skacel dreams of move to England

RUDI Skacel last night admitted he wants to move to the English Premiership but was unable to clarify if he will still be a Hearts player next season.

The Czech Republic international, who captained the Tynecastle club for yesterday's 2-0 defeat by Rangers at Ibrox, has been on loan from Marseille this season. Hearts announced last week they had taken up an option to sign him permanently for another two years, but club owner Vladimir Romanov then claimed Skacel wanted to quit for the Premiership instead.

"I hope to go to the Premiership one day," said Skacel, "because it is the best league of all and I want to play there. Maybe I will go there this year, maybe next year or maybe in five years' time. Maybe it is only a dream and I will never go. After all, I want to play in the National Hockey League, but that is just a dream. Ask Mr Romanov [about my contract]. I signed some options."

Valdas Ivanauskas, the Hearts interim head coach, made nine changes to his side for yesterday's match and claimed some of those who played may have earned themselves a place in Saturday's Tennent's Scottish Cup final against Gretna.

"The performance today was not what I want," said Ivanauskas, "but a lot of players did well. A lot of them have a chance to play next Saturday."

Taken from the Scotsman