Frail insists Hearts are aiming high

STEPHEN Frail, the Hearts first team coach, last night insisted the club still have their sights firmly fixed on a place in the Champions League next season after their 2-0 defeat of Motherwell at Fir Park.

The victory in Anatoly Korobochka's first match as interim head coach pulled Hearts level on points with third placed Aberdeen, whom they face at Pittodrie on Saturday, and seven points behind Rangers who currently occupy the runners-up position in the SPL which brings the reward of a place in the second qualifying round of the Champions League next season.

Hearts' recent decision to put their name forward for entry into the Intertoto Cup was the subject of some derision, but Frail insists that is simply a contingency plan they remain confident they will not have to undertake. With Korobochka failing to attend the post-match media conference at Fir Park, it was left to Frail to state his club's case last night.

"The Champions League spot is still achievable," he said. "That's what we are striving for. A lot was said when the club mentioned the possibility of the Intertoto Cup, people had a laugh at us, but all we were doing were registering our interest if that situation came up. There is a lot of negativity about Hearts, but our aim is still to finish second in the league. Tonight's result brings us closer to Aberdeen and we are definitely still going for second place."

Frail appeared to take the lead role in the Hearts technical area last night with former CSKA Moscow coach Korobochka only emerging occasionally from the bench to pass instructions onto the pitch.

While he did reveal that it was Korobochka's decision to substitute the ineffective Edgaras Jankauskas at half-time, Frail said he was comfortable with the command structure now in place at Hearts following the latest leave of absence afforded to head coach Valdas Ivanauskas.

"We have just carried on with our jobs," said Frail. "Anatoly has come in to provide his advice and influence, but there has been no disruption for myself, Jim Stewart and the other backroom staff who have got on with our jobs as normal. It was pleasing that Anatoly was happy for me to be out there tonight. He took a step back, which was nice of him, but he has the final word.

"Anatoly made the change at half-time. I think he felt we needed a bit more mobility up front with Michal Pospisil. I had an influence on the team selection tonight, but the club have made it clear no coach will have total control of team selection. I'm comfortable with the situation. I don't know of any other first team coach who picks the team at a club. The head coach has the final word."

That, of course, is not the case at Hearts where owner Vladimir Romanov would have given the final seal of approval to last night's team sheet, but Frail was entitled to be bullish after a crucial victory for his club.

"This is a difficult place to come," he added, "and it is a great three points for us. We were without several players through injury and suspension and we had nine under-21 players in the squad of 18. That's another pleasing thing for the club. The last couple of weeks have been great, working with the players every day, and there is a real sense of unity in training where we have mixed the guys up a bit more when in the past they were maybe working in groups of the Lithuanian lads and others."

There was a sense that a party line was being slavishly toed after the match with Laryea Kingston, who enjoyed another impressive 90 minutes in the centre of the Hearts midfield, supporting Frail's view on the latest changes at the club.

"Everything is the same," said the Ghanaian international. "Everything is normal. All of the players respect each other and there is no problem with the coaches. We are aiming for second place in the league, we are looking to win every game between now and the end of the season."

Motherwell manager Maurice Malpas felt Hearts were fortunate to leave Fir Park with all three points and that his players deserved better from their first match since their Scottish Cup exit to St Johnstone last Wednesday.

"We created all the chances, but they put two crosses into our box and scored two goals," said Malpas. "We were the better team, but the result is the main thing I suppose. We were camped in their half for most of the game, but football is a cruel game at times and it was cruel tonight.

"It will be difficult to get into the top six now, but we won't give up until it's impossible. Basically, we have to win every game between now and the split, but five of them are at home."

Taken from the Scotsman