DON'T MAKE AN ART OF IT VLAD

JOHN McGLYNN has urged Hearts to appoint Valdas Ivanauskas as team boss - and prevent another Artmedia Bratislava.

Ivanauskas is set for summit talks on his future with Vladimir Romanov in Lithuania on Monday, as revealed by Record Sport.

First-team coach McGlynn feels it is in the best interests of the club that Ivanauskas is given the go-ahead to continue in the job he took over in March.

The Jambos report for pre-season training on June 23, the day of the UEFA draw for the Champions League qualifying rounds.

Hearts must win through two rounds to make the group stages proper with their first game in Europe on July 26.

McGlynn reckons common sense dictates the club continue with the same staff that ended the season as the last thing they need is more upheaval in arguably their most important summer in history. He said: "Hopefully it's a case of dotting the i's and crossing the t's for Valdas to be named manager.

"We need stability and continuity and I don't see why he shouldn't be handed the job permanently, given the way we ended the season.

"It would save the club having to bring in a new person and then for everyone to find out how they work.

"He could be foreign, might not speak the language and not know the club and there's a danger we could take our eye off the ball in learning to adapt to his ways at a time when we must be focused.

"We could be faced with another Artmedia Bratislava and we saw what they did to Celtic last year. There are some tough games in the preliminary stages.

"Everton drew Villarreal last year, for example, so there are hard, hard games that cannot be taken for granted. Whatever happens, it's good to get continuity and Valdas offers it as he speaks the language and knows the club."

Hearts are currently finalising their pre-season plans, with Ivanauskas keen to lead his squad to Austria for training. The club would also like to arrange friendlies with opposition from the same part of Europe as sides with whom they'll be drawn in the qualifying rounds.

McGlynn added: "It's a big buzz to return to training on the same day as the Champions League draw.

"But for now it's nice just to take a breather after a rollercoaster season that brought us the Scottish Cup and second place in the SPL."

Meanwhile, Spurs could be set to hijack Hearts' attempts to sign Ahn Jung-hwan.

Record Sport understands the South Korean striker's agent, Tom Sanders, has opened talks with the Premiership club, although contact with Rangers has been denied. The 30-year-old hitman wants a transfer from MSV Duisburg after the German club's relegation and a clause in his contract allows him to leave for £500,000.

Hearts were keen on striking a deal that could have seen them net a possible fortune from the player's marketing potential in Asia.

Ahn, who also had spells with Metz and Perugia, will be playing for his country at the World Cup finals.

Sanders said: "After initial contact from Hearts, I have heard nothing more. There are three Premiership clubs now interested in the player and today we started negotiations with one of them.

"I also heard from an agent who mentioned a possibility of Rangers but there has been nothing concrete from Glasgow."

The player should be in action in Edinburgh next Sunday when South Korea take on Japan in an Easter Road friendly.

Taken from the Daily Record