VALDAS, BREW ON THE BRINK

SPL strugglers Valdas Ivanauskas and Craig Brewster were bosses on the brink last night after Hearts and Dundee United crashed to new damaging defeats.

Ivanauskas was locked in crisis talks after his side crashed to a 2-0 home defeat by Kilmarnock while Brewster confessed he might not be able to turn around United's slump after a 3-1 reverse at Aberdeen.

Under-fire Lithuanian head coach Ivanauskas was jeered by Jambo fans and failed to turn up for the post-match press conference.

Instead he locked himself away in his office to pore over video footage of the Tynecastle horror show.

A club spokesman confirmed the Jambos gaffer had attended "an important meeting to discuss what happened on the pitch".

The spokesman added: "Valdas is mightily disappointed. He went to his office after the meeting to watch a re-run of the match, something he usually leaves until the next day.

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"He has told the players how disappointed he is but there is nothing more to read into it."

Meanwhile troubled Brewster admits he doesn't know if he CAN turn things around at Tannadice - or if chairman Eddie Thompson will give him the time to do it.

The Arabs remain rooted to the bottom of the table and Brew's record at United now reads just two wins in 27 SPL GAMES.

He said: "Aberdeen had energy and brightness but we didn't and I don't know why that is.

"I've told the players it'll be tough in the First Division - because that's where this club is heading if they don't improve.

"I'd love to say I've got confidence to turn it around but with two wins in 27 people will question everything about this club. I don't know if I'll be given time but Eddie has a job to do as have I.

"I had the ability to be a manager at Inverness and the players responded to me there.

"That's just not happening here and I'm not sure how long that can go on. We'll need to wait and see what happens."

Brew sounded a beaten man and it looks likely he will become United's fifth managerial casualty in four years.

At Tynecastle, the chaos comes exactly a year after George Burley was sacked as the first manager under Vladimir Romanov's new regime.

Neither the Hearts owner nor his son Roman were at yesterday's game so it is not thought Ivanauskas's position is under immediate threat but fans are increasingly fed up.

The Jambos support protested at Julien Brellier's omission from the side by chanting his name during the match and booed Ivanauskas' substitutions.

And they were astonished by the team rotation system that resulted in Andrius Velicka being dropped despite scoring twice against Hibs.

Valdas cut a frustrated and animated figure on the touchline in the second half as Hearts failed to find a way back.

Midfielder Paul Hartley said: "People make a big deal out of the team line-up but sides all over Europe rotate their squads each week.

"That's the way it's going to go here and there's not a lot you can do.

"The team on the park should be good enough to win but it's up to the manager whowill play.

"Our fans are edgy and expect usmaybe to go a couple of goals up early doors - but it's not happened like that.

"They've got every right to voice their opinion.

"It was a disappointing second half for us and you could see the fans' reaction.

"I hope they back us in the next game against Dunfermline but they just want to see the team winning."

Taken from the Sunday Mail