Jankauskas to stay on Hearts roller-coaster

MARTIN GREIG May 09 2006

Edgaras Jankauskas has hinted that he will be the next big name to pledge his future to Hearts as the club continue to build for the future under Vladimir Romanov.

The Lithuanian is on a year-long loan from Kaunas, but yesterday assured fans that he is not seeking a new challenge in another league.

Team-mate Rudi Skacel has admitted that he sees his future in the English Premiership at some stage, but the former Porto striker is happy with life at the Tynecastle club.

"All this year I've not thought about leaving this club and going to a bigger club," insisted Jankauskas, who was launching Hearts' new season ticket campaign. "I've already been to bigger clubs. I enjoy it here.

"The city is beautiful and the life here is good. If you enjoy every day, then that is more important than to be at a club with a bigger name. The supporters are always behind us. I can tell you, they are one of the best supports I've seen in my life. They stay positive even when we are not winning."

A second-place finish in the Bank of Scotland Premierleague has ensured the club will be in the Champions League qualifiers next season, while they could also lift the Tennent's Scottish Cup if they beat Gretna at the weekend.

The managerial upheaval this season has been cited as one of the main reasons they failed to present a greater challenge to Celtic in the league, but Jankauskas insists that the club could not have achieved any more than they did this season.

"It's difficult to go through a season without bad games, especially when we are playing our first year together," he said. "We had no decent preparation before the season, so I think it's the maximum we could have achieved this year.

"Of course, we can talk about beating Celtic, but Celtic are a much bigger club and I think we have to recognise that. Everybody must be happy and not complain."

The Scottish Cup final will offer Jankauskas the opportunity to add to his already impressive medal collection, which includes a Champions League winners' medal with Porto in 2004. The club may be overwhelming favourites against second division Gretna, but the Lithuanian striker has a cautionary tale from his time in Belgium with FC Bruges.

"We were champions in the league by 25 points and we got to a final against a weaker team, Racing Genk, and lost 4-0. It was very embarrassing. To be at a final and not get the trophy is terrible. If you don't have respect [for the oppostion] then it doesn't matter if they are second, third or fourth division teams, you can lose.

"Everybody thinks we are the favourites, and we are, but I would have preferred to play a Premierleague team rather than a first or second division side because they will play the game as if it's the last of their lives. I remember the game we played here against Partick Thistle. They played great and made life very difficult for us."

Jankauskas actually once played alongside Valdas Ivanauskas, the Hearts manager, for the Lithuanian national team and backed his former team- mate to get the job on a permanent basis.

"All the team are enjoying the training and you couldn't ask for more from him," he said. "I think he deserves to stay here. He's always been a football man, he loves it, it's his life, so I'm not surprised that he's doing well. He played at a top level and he knows what the players need."

Jankauasas is confident the club have the strength in depth to mount a Champions League campaign next season. "We have a good squad and if we can have a good pre-season then I think we have enough to go far."

The club are offering a further 1000 season tickets for sale in order to satisfy the increased demand from fans.

Taken from the Herald