VARANAVICIUS ADDS HIS BACKING TO THE CASE FOR VALDAS IN THE HOT SEAT

FORMER HEARTS director Liutaurus Varanavicius believes Valdas Ivanauskas should remain at Tynecastle next season - even if he misses out on the manager's job, writes COLLEEN PATERSON.

Varanavicius insists that the former Bayern Munich striker is capable of taking over from Graham Rix on a permanent basis, however he admits that Vladimir Romanov may be holding out for a more experienced incumbent.

Even if that turns out to be the case though, he says Ivanauskas can only enhance his CV by learning from a more experienced coach.

At the age of just 39, Ivanauskas would become on of the youngest managers in the SPL if handed the role on a permanent basis and Varanavicius said: "I think Mr Romanov has a long-term plan and it is not for me to decide if Valdas should be the new Hearts coach. Even if Mr Romanov does appoint a more experienced coach, I think it would still be good for Valdas to stay with Hearts. People have mentioned names like Bobby Robson and if someone of that calibre were to come to the club it would definitely be good for Valdas to work with him.

"I am not saying Valdas is not fit to be the coach, but he does still have a lot of things to learn. I think he has already had some proposals from German clubs because they know him very well from his playing days there."

Taken from the Scotsman