VLADIMIR ROMANOV made Valdas Ivanauskas Hearts boss yesterday - then told him he expects the SPL title next season.

The club owner also warned that failure to reach the Champions League group stage is not an option.

Romanov finally confirmed Ivanauskas in the post of permanent head coach at Tynecastle and brought in former Belarus boss Eduard Malofeev as sporting director.

The Russian eyed other candidates for the head coach's position, most notably Alexei Mikhailichenko. But he has finally given the nod to the man who has been acting as stand-in since Graham Rix was axed in March.

Romanov said: "Valdas was very effective in running the team at the end of the season.

Everything went smoothly and we won the Scottish Cup. The team accepted Valdas and got used to him."

Romanov added: "His authority is firm and he is also full of drive and energy. To compensate for his lack of experience I have invited Eduard to work with him.

"They are tasked, together with John McGlynn, to win the SPL and reach the group stages of the Champions League."

Meanwhile, Hearts captain Steven Pressley revealed dressing room power had been used to help get Ivanauskas' appointment made permanent.

The man who guided the Edinburgh club to the Cup and a place in the Champions League qualifiers will assume control immediately.

Lithuanian Malofeev, 64, had been in charge of FC Kaunas after a career which included managing the Soviet Union as well as Belarus.

Yesterday's announcements end speculation that former Rangers duo Mikhailichenko and Oleg Kuznetsov were set to be next in the growing line of managers who've handled the team since Romanov took control of Hearts.

Pressley said: "I went to Mr Romanov at the end of last season because the other players wanted me to tell him that we wanted Valdas to have the job in charge of the first team.

"The stability that Valdas brings to the coaching side of the club can never be undervalued. This has given us a tremendous boost prior to the new season starting."

But the captain also conceded that his former defensive partner Andy Webster wouldn't be there for the opening game.

The Scotland international is expected to be sold sooner rather than later.

Pressley said: "I would say there's no chance of getting Andy to stay. He feels this is the ideal time to try pastures new."

Hearts chairman Roman romanov preferred to focus on the positive side of stabilising the management situation

He said' "This is a major step forward. I hope our new appointments will bring excellent skills and develop Hearts as a top European club."

Taken from the Daily Record