Exit door beckons for Hearts ace Saulius Mikoliunas after failing to agree new deal

Apr 11 2009

SAULIUS Mikoliunas' Hearts future is in doubt after talks to extend the midfielder's stay at the club stalled.

The Lithuanian international has been on loan at Tynecastle from FBK Kaunas for more than four years, with the clubs negotiating each year to prolong his stay.

The 24-year-old flew back to Lithuania yesterday to consider his options, and it is thought he may hold talks with majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov - whose Ukio Bankas Investment Group bankrolls Kaunas - while in the country.

Mikoliunas' season has been hit by a knee injury that caused him to miss more than two months of action.

Since November, he has made just three appearances for Csaba Laszlo's side, his most recent outing coming as a substitute in last month's 1-0 derby defeat at Hibernian.

He was left out of the squad for last weekend's win over Kilmarnock after his refusal to agree new terms, and will miss today's clash with Celtic.

Mikoliunas has already hinted he may move on at the end of the season.

"Edinburgh is a wonderful city and the Scots are crazy for football," he said earlier this season.

"But I have stayed four years. Therefore, I would like something new - new challenges."

Taken from the Daily Record