BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

27/06/2006

Hearts may turn to coach Malofeev

Former Belarus national coach Eduard Malofeev is in the running for the director of football role at Hearts.

Club owner Vladimir Romanov told BBC Scotland that the 64-year-old was on the luxury yacht which Hearts are using at their training camp in Monaco.

Speaking through an interpreter, he said: "It is true he is on the yacht. We will clarify the position on 3 July. We are talking to the coaching staff."

Malofeev, formerly in charge of Dinamo Minsk, is currently with FBK Kaunas.

The veteran coach has opened up a commanding lead in the Lithuanian league, with FBK Kaunas ahead by 17 points after 16 games.

Although he was absent because of health problems at the start of the season, FBK Kaunas are unbeaten - having won 15 and drawn one of their league matches.

Romanov was heavily involved with FBK Kaunas and retains strong ties with the club that his bank continues to sponsor, along with the Edinburgh club.

Many of the new faces that have arrived at Hearts since Romanov's arrival have done so via loan deals from the Lithuanian league leaders.

Source:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/5122672.stm