Davies still high on Hearts’ agenda

DARRYL BROADFOOT May 16 2006

VALDAS IVANAUSKAS will discover whether he is to continue as Hearts' first-team coach at a meeting with Vladimir Romanov in Lithuania at the end of the week.

The interim coach returned home to Kaunas yesterday after parading the Tennent's Scottish Cup around Edinburgh. He awoke to reports that Billy Davies, the Preston North End manager, is favourite to become the club's fourth manager inside a year.

The Herald understands that, despite his success, Ivanauskas is unlikely to be named as long-term successor to Graham Rix by the owner, but his services will be retained in a coaching and advisory capacity at Tynecastle.

Davies is abroad with his coaching team after defeat by Leeds United in the Coca-Cola Championship play-off semi-final but is understood to be keen on a return to Scotland, especially as Hearts have secured a place in the Champions League preliminaries.

Hearts maintained last night no approach had been made to Preston to seek permission, and cautioned Davies about representatives claiming to operate on behalf of Romanov.

Davies remains high on the priority list, though, having been interviewed for the position prior to Rix's appointment. It is understood he had reservations over Romanov's interference in team affairs and Davies was subsequently offered an improved deal by Derek Shaw, the Deepdale chairman, to stay in Lancashire.

Sources close to Davies suggest the time is now right to move if an offer is made, but Hearts face competition from Derby County, who have also been impressed by the Scot's ability to prosper despite administering cuts to his first-team budget and losing his biggest assets on an annual basis.

Hearts have already indicated that a compensation fee to Preston of about £250,000 would not be insurmountable, while Davies would also request the services of Craig Brown, now of Fulham, as director of football.

Hearts are believed to be interested in signing Albert Meyong, the top scorer in the Portuguese league. The 25-year-old Cameroon striker hit 16 league goals this season and wants to leave Belenenses, following their relegation from the top flight, but Meyong may not have played enough times for his country in the past two years to warrant a work permit.

Taken from the Herald