Screpis in FIFA threat

Published on Monday 14 January 2008 09:22

ARGENTINIAN midfielder Fernando Screpis is threatening to report Hearts to FIFA as he remains ensconced in South America with no idea if he is wanted at Tynecastle.

The 28-year-old claims Hearts are refusing to give a definitive answer on his future despite him being contracted to the club on a three-and-a-half-year deal, which began on January 1.

Screpis, who holds an Italian passport, has asked Tynecastle officials for clarification on his situation several times since completing a six-month spell at FBK Kaunas last month. He expected to move to Scotland after Christmas but is bemused by an apparent lack of communication from senior management.

Should Hearts fail to fulfil their obligations to him, the player intends to lodge a complaint with world football's governing body, FIFA. He signed the three-and-a-half year deal during Hearts' pre-season tour of Austria on the understanding he would spend six months with Vladimir Romanov-sponsored Kaunas until it took effect on January 1.

He remains set on moving to Edinburgh but is now anxious to know if he is still wanted by Romanov and is urging the club to reach a decision.

He said today: "I am unsure if Hearts want me as a player or not. What I am sure of is that I have a three-and-a-half-year contract with them which started on January 1. I have it in front of me. If I can't get an answer from Hearts I will go to FIFA because I want to fulfil this contract. I want to be a Hearts player.

"The way they do business is very strange. Pedro Lopez (deputy chief executive] called me four or five times when he was in Argentina last year, begging me to join Hearts. At that time there was an Italian team and a team from Greece asking about me but I agreed to go to Scotland.

"Now no-one at Hearts can tell me if they want me or not. I don't want to go to Hearts if I am not wanted there, but my intention is to play for this club. That's why I signed for three-and-a-half years. They need to tell me what will happen."

Screpis impressed as a trialist in Hearts' 2-1 friendly defeat of Austria Vienna last July and then agreed to the short-term move to Kaunas. He helped them to the Lithuanian A-Lyga title, but his future is now shrouded in uncertainty.

He continued: "I spent time in Lithuania – it was a good experience – but now I want to perform at a higher level. I should be in Scotland now but I don't know if I will ever get there."

Romanov is currently entertaining high-ranking delegates from Hearts and his Ukio Bankas Investment Group in Lithuania. Campbell Ogilvie, operations director at Tynecastle, has been accompanied to the Baltic state for a two-day meeting by Romanov's UK representative Charlie Mann as well as financial controllers from UBIG.

On the agenda are several Hearts-related issues, including signing targets, potential candidates for the club's managerial vacancy and progress with the redevelopment of Tynecastle.