Mikoliunas hints at exit to seek 'new challenges'

Published on Monday 1 December 2008 23:20

HEARTS were last night dealt another blow after Saulius Mikoliunas announced he wants to quit after a blast at Scottish referees.

The Lithuania winger has been a controversial figure since his infamous dive at Hampden Park to win his country a penalty in a Euro 2008 qualifier against Scotland. And he has now revealed he wants to leave the Edinburgh crisis club, who delayed paying their players again last week.

Mikoliunas said: "Hearts have the perfect set up, Edinburgh is a lovely city and the Scottish people are mad about football. But I have been here for four years now and I feel the need for something new; new challenges."

Mikoliunas believes most Scottish fans have forgotten about his infamous penalty dive, but Scottish referees haven't.

He said: "It looks like the fans are starting to forget that incident. Last year I heard a lot of whistles and got a lot of abuse but now it's dying down. But the referees look at me through a magnifying glass.

"It's frustrating when you get booked for nothing, but I just accept it and carry on. I have no intention to whine that I am being treated unfairly. My job is to play and the referee's job is to referee."

Mikoliunas almost quit Hearts in the summer for a move to Greek club Larissa and is currently back home in the Baltics recovering from injury.

He reckons he will be back in action next month.

He said: "I will try to recoup for the time that was lost. Maybe a rest is what I needed, I will be back with more energy and hungry for football again."

&#149 Alan Gow last night revealed he will return to Rangers at the start of next month. The on-loan Ibrox flop has been a revelation since joining Blackpool in August.

Gow was never given a chance at Rangers after making just two starts, against East Fife and East Stirling, last season after he moved from Falkirk. But since moving to Bloomfield Road, Gow has netted a string of important goals for the Championship side.

Although Blackpool want to sign him on an agreed price of 250,000, Gow says he is likely to come back north. He said: "Blackpool spoke to my agent last week and I know they want to sign me permanently, but I have not heard anything since. If nothing happens down here then I will just go back to Rangers on 1 January."