WE'LL STILL BE CLASS WITHOUT SKACEL

PAUL HARTLEY dismisses talk that the impending departure of Rudi Skacel could begin the break-up of Hearts' Scottish Cup-winning team.

Indeed, Hartley believes the prospect of Champions League football will bring more quality players to Tynecastle.

Eight years ago, Jim Jefferies was helpless as Neil McCann, Paul Ritchie, David Weir and Gary Naysmith all left Tynecastle after Hearts' Scottish Cup triumph.

But Hartley believes things will be different this time.

Speaking as he picked up the Bank of Scotland Player of the Season award, he said: "Hearts can hold on to the nucleus of the Cup team as there is still a lot to play for. The majority want to stay and be successful again.

"The difference is Hearts can now attract better players thanks to the Champions League lure.

"I am disappointed Rudi has decided to take up a new challenge.

"I get on well with him but it's his prerogative to try his luck elsewhere."

Hartley doesn't believe he has a major temperament problem, despite having been sent off at Hampden for his second bookable offence - a kick at Gretna's Derek Townsley.

That black mark - he is only the fourth man in the 132-year history of the Scottish Cup to be sent off in a final - and the fact he walked earlier in the season for a kick at Celtic's Ross Wallace has brought criticism.

Hartley said: "Sometimes my temperament lets me down and I just get frustrated. It is something I am aware of and I know I will have to watch out in the future."

The playmaker feared being made the fall guy over his overtime indiscretion but his team-mates got him out of jail by lifting the trophy on penalties.

He said "I still haven't watched the Final and I certainly don't want to watch extra time.

"I was a nervous wreck watching the shoot-out because if we had lost it on penalties I knew a lot of the blame would come my way.

"I'm the regular penalty taker and would have been on the first spot-kick had I not been sent off.

"I was a bundle of nerves sitting watching the TV in the tunnel area but the boys came through for me."

Taken from the Daily Record