RUDI NOT BACK TO STAY SAYS HIS AGENT

RUDI SKACEL returns to Hearts this morning with his future shrouded in confusion.

Agent Viktor Kolar says the Czech ace will walk out on the Tyne castle side when his contract expires in 10 days.

But Hearts are adamant the 26-year-old is their player after they spent £325,000 on a two-year option agreed when he joined on loan from Marseille last season.

Kolar said: "Rudi has arrived back in Edinburgh for training but will leave when his contract expires at the end of this month and that's all I can really say about it."

It's understood there is bitter wrangling behind the scenes over Skacel's contract status, with Hearts adamant the player belongs to them.

Chairman and acting chief executive Roman Romanov said: "We do not understand such statements because Rudi has a three-year agreement with Hearts.

"Until we sit down with Rudi and both the player and the club agree about his future -which must be in both his and the club's best interests - then statements such as those being made by agents are extremely premature."

Skacel's advisers, on the other hand, believe they should have been given the option to ratify the extension when the fee was paid to the French club at the end of the season.

The former Sparta Prague and Panathinaikos star has enjoyed much of his time at Tynecastle where he was a big hit with the fans. But he sees his future elsewhere because he doesn't like the way Romanov runs the club.

Several clubs have shown an interest, particularly Southampton, bossed by former Hearts manager George Burley.

They were ready to fork out up to £1million but Romanov could want considerably more. However, for now it seems Skacel's future is in limbo.

Taken from the Daily Record