LEE WALLACE has been forced to apologise to senior Hearts officials over the embarrassment caused by his arrest whilst in possession of a firearm.

However, the teenager has not been disciplined by head coach Valdas Ivanauskas over the incident. Hearts are seeking to draw a line under the issue and as such have told Wallace that his place in the first-team squad will not be affected.

The young defender was caught by Lothian and Borders police in the early hours of Monday, August 7, with a gas-powered handgun in his car. Only hours earlier he had played a standout role in Hearts' 2-1 victory over Celtic. When questioned by officers he admitted to being the owner of the pistol, not a crime in itself, but it is alleged that Wallace had been brandishing the weapon and waving it around in a dangerous manner whilst in the company of friends near Hermiston Court in the Sighthill area of Edinburgh.

After informing Hearts of his arrest and apologising to the club, the player may have to answer charges in court as a report has been sent to the Procurator Fiscal.

The club are refusing to comment, but a source close to Wallace admitted: "Lee has assured Hearts that his sole focus is on football and he's determined to continue playing for his place in the team."

Wallace was back at Riccarton today for training and Hearts are now keen to let the incident lie.

Taken from the Scotsman