VALDAS GETS PLAYERS LIFT

MICHAL POSPISIL insists every Hearts player is backing under-fire coach Valdas Ivanauskas.

The Czech striker, speaking at Edinburgh Airport yesterday to promote the club's link-up with Czech Airlines for the UEFA Cup tie in Prague, said: "I think the whole team has sympathy with the coach.

"There is a good relationship there between him and the players and I don't see any problems.

"You read in the papers about who picks the team but I think the team is okay because we don't see the relationship between Mr Romanov and Valdas. And I think we can get the results to make sure the manager keeps his position.

"The players respect him very much as our manager. He was a player so he knows how to take training and John McGlynn is very good.

"Valdas has tried to remain positive and has not panicked.

"It's true, we have not been in good shape in the last couple of games but there are other reasons for this like suspensions and injuries. We have players to come back.

"We have also seen three red cards and I think it is too much.

We must be more disciplined.

"We are probably not in good shape but the Motherwell win was good and hopefully we can build on that."

Pospisil, who was signed last summer, believes the current negativity surrounding the team eclipses last season's off-field turmoil.

He said: "I think it has been the most difficult time here for me. Last season, even when we had some bad times, we were still top of the table or in second and we didn't play in Europe.

"This season is different and we have lost some games in the league and in Europe. It's a difficult time but every club goes through these stages.

"It's about trying to stop it and playing football again."

Hearts have tied down Australian youth international striker Rocco Visconte, 16, and defender Ryan McGowan, 17, on new three-year contracts.

Taken from the Daily Record