Hackett fears for his future at Tynecastle

HEARTS winger Chris Hackett is fearful of being told he is surplus to requirements at Tynecastle after playing just twice for the club.

The Englishman is desperate to remain in Edinburgh but admits he is clueless about his future after playing one start and one substitute appearance for Hearts since his £20,000 transfer from Oxford United in January.

Alarmingly for the player, Hackett has not featured at all since interim head coach Valdas Ivanauskas replaced Graham Rix in March. He has instructed his agent to obtain a definitive answer on his future before pre-season training resumes in four weeks' time.

"I don't know where I stand at the moment," admitted Hackett. "People have been asking me but I really haven't got a clue. Towards the end of the season I just got on with what I do - working hard, training hard and doing well in the reserves.

"I can't do anything else. I just have to wait and see what the situation is until I'm told otherwise. My agent is trying to find out at the moment because we need to know what is going on.

"It will probably just require a quick conversation with Valdas or Mr Romanov just to find out what the situation is."

Hackett admits to being perplexed by his continual omission under Ivanauskas and is understood to have been the subject of criticism from chairman Roman Romanov at the time of Rix's sacking, when some of the Englishman's signings were questioned.

However he refuses to let that deter him in attempting to make a name for himself at Tynecastle. "It's been a bit frustrating but I've really enjoyed my time up there," said the winger, who is currently back home in the south of England.

"I've had a good five months and it's been great living in Edinburgh. The people have been really good with me. Towards the end of the season it was a strange situation for me but that's football. It can happen sometimes and you just need to be professional."

One situation that is certain to have been cleared up by then is the position of Ivanauskas, who is due for a meeting with Hearts majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov at the beginning of next week.

Ivanauskas remains the clear favourite to be installed as permanent head coach, but Romanov has yet to announce a decision officially.

"I think I will be staying with Hearts next season but in which position I don't yet know," said Ivanauskas, who may be permitted to combine any role at Tynecastle with coaching the Lithuanian national team.

"I will have a meeting with Mr Romanov on Monday or Tuesday to discuss the issue."

Ivanauskas is reported to have already sounded out the South Korean international Ahn Jung-hwan about a move to Edinburgh, but Hearts have yet to make an official move for the player.

French goalkeeper Rais M'Bolhi is on the lookout for a new club after Hearts asked him to move on loan to FBK Kaunas, who are also heavily financed by Romanov. However, the teenager, who arrived from Marseille in January, rejected the request.

Full-back Takis Fyssas was in action for his country yesterday as Greece lost 1-0 in their friendly with Australia in Melbourne.

Taken from the Scotsman