Sergejus Fedotovas says Hearts still chasing Europa slot

By BARRY ANDERSON
Published on Tuesday 28 February 2012 12:04

SERGEJUS FEDOTOVAS revealed today that the Hearts board still hope to see the club qualify for Europe this season and urged supporters not to give up on reaching the Europa League.

Speaking exclusively to the Evening News, the Tynecastle director said he and fellow board members are watching events in Edinburgh closely, with Hearts slipping to sixth in the Scottish Premier League following the weekend defeat by Dundee United.

To reach the qualifying rounds of the Europa League, a club must finish fourth in the SPL, assuming Rangers are not precluded from entering European competition because of their financial predicament.

If the Glasgow club are denied entry to Europe, fifth place in the SPL would secure a Europa League berth and Fedotovas believes Hearts are still very much in contention.

“We are not taking our European chances for granted,” he stressed.

“We have to concentrate on every single game now and I think every week the priority is the next game. Once the next game is done, we can assess results and then see what is next in order to do better. To speak now about the ultimate result, I think directors, players and supporters all wish for the club to achieve a European spot.”

Meanwhile, former Hearts defender Lee Wallace is eager to prove his fitness in time to face his old team at Ibrox this Saturday.

“I think Lee could make Saturday,” said Rangers’ assistant manager, Kenny McDowall. “He had a dead leg after the Kilmarnock game and we hoped he’d be able to come north with us [to Inverness on Sunday]. He just ran out of time and it was better to leave him behind, but we’re optimistic he can return to the squad.”

Taken from the Scotsman