Hearts' disappointed Marian Kello is 'not interested in playing for Celtic'

Marian Kello yesterday refuted reports that he is seeking a move to Celtic, and criticised Hearts' hierarchy for showing him a lack of respect.

The club's No.1 goalkeeper will not play against Celtic tonight having been dropped last weekend for not accepting a £100,000 move to Austria Vienna on transfer deadline day. There is every likelihood the Slovakian internationalist will not play for Hearts again.

Kello consciously sought out the press at Hearts' base in Riccarton yesterday to set the record straight. "It's not like I want to go to Celtic, like it says in the papers," he said. "I will tell you why – because I would sit there on the bench. For me there is no point in that. It's not like I don't want to be here, or I don't want to be playing. If you have a chance to play then obviously you would try, but the manager likes somebody else, and that is the point you have to consider."

When asked whether he was being punished for turning down a move to Austria, Kello said: "Obviously. They forced me to go. They said: 'If you don't go then you might not play.' Sergejus [Fedotovas, Hearts' director] told me this on January 31. The point is they should show me respect. Don't force me out. I expected something more from the club. [Manager] Paulo Sergio is trying to do his best If he wants to play me I don't see why someone else should tell him not to play me.

"It's been very hard for me because I try to be honest and I always fight for the club. I've been told that I don't figure in the future of the club and I have not been offered a new contract. They do not want me at the club next season because of all the money problems."

The Slovak will leave when his contract expires on June 30, and he confirmed that his agent is already considering avenues of interest.

Sergio admitted that Kello's time at the club is all but over. "There is an issue, and the issue is clear. The future of Kello is not going to be at Hearts. That was made clear between him and the board in the last week or two. If his future is not linked with our club then it is fair enough to put the others to play, because the future is going to be with them. This protects the club and protects the player, too. Imagine if he makes a mistake and everybody knows he is going to move. It's not going to be good for him."

Taken from the Herald