BE ON THAT JAMBO JET OR YOU'RE FINISHED

VALDAS IVANAUSKAS last night warned Rudi Skacel and Andy Webster to be on board this morning's flight for Austria or face being booted out of the club.

The Lithuanian has taken a hardline approach over the futures of the pair after being unveiled as Hearts' permanent head coach.

The contract rebels are expected to be at Edinburgh Airport to set out for their preseason tour and Ivanauskas insisted anything less will end their time at the club.

He said: "I expect Webster and Skacel to be at the airport and have no reason to think otherwise. For the moment it's not a decision I have to make as we'll see if there's a problem.

"But they were instrumental for us last season and they're extremely important players. If they are to leave then we would need to be compensated fully for that and if that was the case we would shake their hands, say thank you and good luck. But if they're not on the flight their time at Hearts will be over."

Ivanauskas also confirmed that he's attempting to bring South Korean striker Ahn Jung Hwan to the club but won't be drawn on how far talks have gone down the line as speculation increased over a £400,000 deal being struck with German side Doesburg. He said: "I've only just arrived back from Moscow and I can't substantiate any claims from his agent but I can confirm that we are interested.

"He's a good player but there are other factors that will come into it like whether he can adapt to the Scottish game. But he's certainly one of several candidates that we're looking at."

Taken from the Daily Record