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Pressley's Hearts future in doubt | |
(20 minutes later) | |
Steven Pressley's future as captain of Hearts is in doubt following his exclusion from the game at Falkirk. | |
Hearts refused to confirm if the 33-year-old had been dropped for the 1-1 draw or had resigned the captaincy. | |
Last month, Pressley spoke publicly of "significant unrest" at the club, following the departure of head coach Valdas Ivanauskas on sick leave. | Last month, Pressley spoke publicly of "significant unrest" at the club, following the departure of head coach Valdas Ivanauskas on sick leave. |
"Of course it's a concern," goalkeeper Craig Gordon told BBC Sport. "It's something that we need to sort out." | "Of course it's a concern," goalkeeper Craig Gordon told BBC Sport. "It's something that we need to sort out." |
Gordon hopes to see Pressley return | Gordon hopes to see Pressley return |
Pressley has been at Tynecastle since 1998 and signed a two-year contract extension in March 2005. | Pressley has been at Tynecastle since 1998 and signed a two-year contract extension in March 2005. |
But Hearts officials would not be drawn on the matter and were refusing to speak to the media. | But Hearts officials would not be drawn on the matter and were refusing to speak to the media. |
Scotland star Gordon did talk to BBC Sport but would not reveal the details of Pressley's shock omission. | Scotland star Gordon did talk to BBC Sport but would not reveal the details of Pressley's shock omission. |
We are going to give everything we have to bring success to this club Craig Gordon | We are going to give everything we have to bring success to this club Craig Gordon |
"I have spoken to Steven and he wished the boys all the best for the game," he said. | "I have spoken to Steven and he wished the boys all the best for the game," he said. |
"He still wanted us to get the result and do the best we could for everyone here. | "He still wanted us to get the result and do the best we could for everyone here. |
"He did not play tonight but, hopefully, he will come back into the reckoning as soon as possible." | "He did not play tonight but, hopefully, he will come back into the reckoning as soon as possible." |
The Edinburgh side have gone off the boil in recent weeks and have not won a game since they hammered Dundee United 4-0 on 1 October. | The Edinburgh side have gone off the boil in recent weeks and have not won a game since they hammered Dundee United 4-0 on 1 October. |
MY SPORT DEBATE: Share your thoughts on the news | MY SPORT DEBATE: Share your thoughts on the news |
Fellow Scotland international Paul Hartley, who flanked Pressley when he read a statement outlining the players' unrest, was dropped to the bench for the Falkirk match. | Fellow Scotland international Paul Hartley, who flanked Pressley when he read a statement outlining the players' unrest, was dropped to the bench for the Falkirk match. |
And Hartley was not introduced until injury time in a match that saw several Hearts players underperform. | And Hartley was not introduced until injury time in a match that saw several Hearts players underperform. |
Gordon was quick to quash the rumour that he and Hartley had offered not to play in support of Pressley. | Gordon was quick to quash the rumour that he and Hartley had offered not to play in support of Pressley. |
"No chance," he told BBC Sport. "We are not walking out on the club and especially the fans who have been fantastic through all of this. | "No chance," he told BBC Sport. "We are not walking out on the club and especially the fans who have been fantastic through all of this. |
"There is absolutely no way that will happen from anyone in this squad. We are going to give everything we have to bring success to this club." | "There is absolutely no way that will happen from anyone in this squad. We are going to give everything we have to bring success to this club." |
Interim coach Eduard Malofeev continues to oversee the team and will do so for the match against Rangers on Sunday. | Interim coach Eduard Malofeev continues to oversee the team and will do so for the match against Rangers on Sunday. |
But BBC Sport understands Eugenijus Riabovas will take over the manager's role after that game. | But BBC Sport understands Eugenijus Riabovas will take over the manager's role after that game. |
Riabovas has recently steered FBK Kaunas to the Lithuanian title and his arrival will cast further uncertainty over the future of Ivanauskas, who is recovering from health problems. | Riabovas has recently steered FBK Kaunas to the Lithuanian title and his arrival will cast further uncertainty over the future of Ivanauskas, who is recovering from health problems. |