Ivanauskas - I'm in dark over role

VALDAS IVANAUSKAS was today facing the prospect of flying back to Edinburgh with no indication of what role he will fulfil at Hearts next season.

The Lithuanian, who still holds the title of interim head coach, is due to jet back to the Capital from his home country tomorrow to oversee the beginning of pre- season training at Riccarton on Wednesday morning.

As Vladimir Romanov deliberates over whether to offer Alexei Mikhailichenko a position at Hearts, Ivanauskas has been endeavouring to arrange a meeting with the club's majority shareholder to clarify his own position.

"I have been calling Mr Romanov and he is not in Lithuania," said Ivanauskas. "Hopefully he will be back here this afternoon, but that doesn't leave much time because tomorrow I am back in Edinburgh.

"I will try to speak to him this afternoon because I still don't know what my position is. I want to try and explain the situation and discuss issues about players who are leaving or coming in, but I can't do that at the moment.

"We are starting training but we need some clear lines drawn."

Mikhailichenko is still a candidate to become involved at Tynecastle in some capacity, be it as head coach or director of football, however he has been at pains to stress that he has not signed any contract with Hearts.

Ivanauskas expects the unsettled Rudi Skacel to return for pre-season training despite the midfielder having intimated his wish to leave Hearts at the end of last season. "I hope he will be there. He is still a Hearts player," he said whilst mindful that defender Andy Webster will become a free agent as of July 1 after invoking a FIFA rule to release himself from his contract.

Skacel has been named in the Czech Republic Team of the Year after finishing eighth in a national poll to name the country's top footballer. Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech came out top.

Meanwhile, reserves Craig Sives and Hjalmar Thorarinsson will both be staying at Tynecastle next season, whilst Livingston and Dundee United have declared their interest in teenage full-back Lee Wallace. If Hearts were willing to release Wallace it would only be on loan at best.