Elvis in hotel walk-out

Alex Koslovski, a sport director at Tynecastle, revealed that the 33-year-old was acting in response to "rumours" surrounding his captaincy, which arose after club owner Vladimir Romanov was understood to have initiated a plot to relieve Pressley of the armband.

Pressley learned of the behind-the-scenes machinations to oust him as skipper and left the Hearts team hotel in the build-up to the Falkirk match. His future at the club is now in serious jeopardy although he did turn up at the club's Riccarton complex for training at 9.15 this morning.

"Recent rumours about the captaincy unsettled Pressley - he asked not to be selected due to his state of mind," said Koslovski. The Hearts support today emerged in a fulsome show of support for their captain.

Whereas in the recent past many fans have turned against rebellious players such as Andy Webster and Rudi Skacel, the backing for Pressley remains weighty. Several members of the Tynecastle playing staff were understood to have been approached by someone close to majority shareholder Romanov and urged to side against the captain, who just last month issued a statement admitting to serious concerns about the direction the club was heading.

This latest twist is almost certainly a reaction to that statement and Pressley's future in a maroon shirt is now in the balance.

"Steven Pressley has the full backing of the Hearts fans regardless of what has happened," said Derek Watson, secretary of the Hearts Supporters' Trust.

"He has led the club on and off the field over the past three or four years even before Vladimir Romanov became involved.

"If Steven has felt that he wasn't in a fit mental state to play last night that's totally understandable given everything that's gone on.

"All the fans are right behind him and see him as a leader within the club. I know that he's had a fairly hard time, particularly since the statement was made recently, but even before that.

"This has all been simmering under the surface for quite a while now.

"The main thing now as far as we're concerned is that he's back in a Hearts jersey as soon as possible.

"People within football and outwith the game really respect him and we need him back. We want him in a Hearts jersey with the captain's armband and every effort should be made to make that happen. We know the club is in a bit of turmoil and it's vital that settles down soon. Frankly, if Steven Pressley isn't involved I don't see how that will happen."

While Pressley was absent from the 1-1 draw at the Falkirk Stadium, fellow Scotland internationalists Paul Hartley and Robbie Neilson were relegated to the bench.

The club refused to comment on either the absence of the trio from the starting line-up or the allegations that Pressley's position had been undermined.

"We just want a bit of honesty," said Watson.

"I don't know what the situation was with Hartley and Neilson but I think if we'd put our strongest team on the pitch we would have had a better chance of winning.

"It would be nice if Hearts came out and explained what is going on. It hasn't happened in the past but I think it's important they keep the fans informed. I think we need to know why players are on the bench etc, just basic footballing information.

"We're not asking for inside information just the kind of thing that every other club gives out.

"We actually played ok last night and I thought we were quite unlucky not to win the match.

"But if we'd had a few other players on the pitch then you never know how things might have turned out."

• HEARTS today confirmed that FBK Kaunas boss Eujenijus Riabovas will take temporary charge of the first team later this month while interim head coach Eduard Malofeev completes his UEFA pro-licence.