Kaunas pull out of top league in Lithuania

"We want to de monstrate to the Lithuanian Soccer Federation we don't agree with this."

The federation said Atlantas were also stepping down a division.

However, it added that both teams were expected to make a final decision on whether or not to leave the A league by the end of next week.

The federation dismissed Kaunas's claims as illogical because it was the association of clubs who organised the last championship, not the federation.

The dispute has cast a shadow over football in the former Soviet state ahead of the start of the new season in April.

Kaunas have won the A league eight times since 1999 and knocked out Rangers in the Champions League second qualifying round in August 2008.

Eight teams played in the A league last year, Kaunas finishing second after winning the championship in 2007.

Romanov's Hearts are third in the Scottish Premier League, 15 points behind leaders Celtic, and enjoy close links with Kaunas through Ukio Bankas Investment Group, which finances both clubs.

Loan deals between Hearts and Kaunas have been commonplace since Romanov gained a controlling interest at Tynecastle four years ago, however those may become less common if Kaunas decide to play lower league football on a regular basis.

Taken from the Scotsman