Ivanauskas is the man for Hearts, Pressley tells Vlad

HEARTS captain Steven Pressley today urged club owner Vladimir Romanov to hand the manager's job to Valdas Ivanauskas on a full-time basis.

The Lithuanian coach was appointed on an interim basis when Graham Rix was sacked in March and steered Hearts into the Champions League qualifiers for the first time in their history and helped them to the Tennent's Scottish Cup at the weekend.

Ivanauskas is seeking a meeting with Romanov over the next few days to discuss his position at the club with the Hearts majority shareholder giving little away about his plans in the meantime. But having seen first George Burley dismissed and then Rix follow him out the door in a turbulent season for the Tynecastle team, Pressley is keen to see Ivanauskas at the helm next term.

"I think we need stability," said the Scotland internationalist.

"I think Valdas should be appointed as manager as I think he's done a fantastic job since taking over. He would be a very popular choice.

"With everything he's achieved he's done himself plenty of favours. He's a good manager and while he has a rapport with his players there is also a line you know you don't cross with him.

"He has plenty of experience and has a very good pedigree. He has all his badges from the German coaching schools and would be a good choice."

Billy Davies' name has also been touted for the job in recent weeks and the Preston manager admitted yesterday that he would listen to any offer that Hearts made him.

In Ivanauskas' favour is the fact that he is already in the role and knows both Romanov and the current playing staff.

And should Ivanauskas be given the nod next term Pressley believes it's imperative that he is given sufficient time to mould his own side and build on what he has achieved with the club this season.

Rix was sacked just a matter of months after being the surprise choice to succeed Burley, and Pressley, who at times appeared to be holding the club together, isn't keen for a repeat of that situation. "I think he should not only be given the job but he should also be given the time to build his side," said Pressley.

"Stability is the key word as we don't want to have to endure another season with continuos change.

"We would like to see stability return. As yet there's no sign that Valdas will take over but I hope he does."

As the celebrations finally begin to die down after the club claimed their first trophy for eight long years - they last lifted the Scottish Cup under Jim Jefferies in 1998 - Pressley is already setting his sights on bettering that achievement next term.

The Gorgie club were genuine championship challengers until early in the New Year when Celtic began to pull away. And Pressley believes that winning the SPL title and retaining the Scottish Cup must now be the aim for next year.

"We have to prove we are capable of sustaining the level we've shown this season," insisted Pressley. "In terms of improvement we have to go further in the SPL, we have to try and win it and retain the Scottish Cup.

"Many teams have had very impressive seasons and then failed to deliver the following year. That has to be the real test for us. I believe that with Mr Romanov's investment and that quality that we have here that we're capable.

"The Old Firm will I'm sure invest in new players over the summer and I think we need to do the same.

"If we do that there's every reason to believe we can have another very successful season."

mbonthrone@edinburghnews.com
WHAT OTHERS SAY

VLADIMIR ROMANOV: "Valdas has a big chance , I will say that. At the moment, he is bringing us a lot of luck and is doing very well. I am very pleased with him. For the Champions League, perhaps I would like to see someone here with more experience but we are going to see how we go with Valdas. He is gathering his experience and has improved his knowledge."

JOHN McGLYNN: "I would like to think our relationship has worked well so far. "I would favour Valdas getting the job because there is a bit of trust there between us. I don't see any reason why we need anyone else. Valdas has done a good job and I don't see what anyone else could do that would be better. There may be someone new brought in during the summer. That person might have a good track record but the players will have to get used to a new manager all over again and that's always a gamble when you have something that seems to be working fine."

SAULIUS MIKOLIUNAS: "Valdas was my hero as a kid. He was my favourite player from Lithuania because he was the first from our country to play in the Bundesliga. He is a big name in Lithuania and everybody knows him. He speaks my language and he knows what I can do. He was my manager at Kaunas and he coaches Deividas [Cesnauskis] and I with the national team. He knows me better than anyone and he can get the best out of me."

PAUL HARTLEY: "He's got a good case now he's got us to the Champions League. Hopefully Mr Romanov will appoint him as manager. He's not spoken to the players but they all want him to get the job."

Taken from the Scotsman