Paulo Sergio left in limbo as to Hearts future

DESPITE winning the biggest match in Hearts’ history, Paulo Sergio still has no idea if he will remain manager of the Edinburgh club, writes BARRY ANDERSON. He hoped for talks with Vladimir Romanov over the weekend but the majority shareholder did not attend the Scottish Cup-winning celebrations and instead returned to Moscow.

Sergio’s contract expires at the end of the month and he is eager to know whether he will be offered an extension. Sergejus Fedotovas, Romanov’s right-hand man and a Tynecastle director, told the Evening News earlier this month that June was a more realistic time to decide on the Portuguese coach’s future.

Sergio admitted he finds the delay irritating, particularly after masterminding Hearts’ rampant 5-1 victory in the all-Edinburgh Scottish Cup final with Hibs at Hampden Park.

“Now I go home to see the cup final of Portugal. I would prefer my last interview to end in a different way,” he said. “Until this moment people have said they want me to stay but there have been no other talks on the table to fix things.

“We are losing too much time because normally at this time in the season, by the last game, I have things all done for the next season. At this moment I have nothing and that is bothering me and p*****g me off a little bit. But I am tough enough to deal with that. There is no point in me putting deadlines down because people are here and whatever is going to happen will happen.”

Sergio’s mother attended Saturday’s showpiece at Hampden, causing her son a good deal of emotion at the final whistle. “That [tears] always happens to me because I am very proud of my parents,” he explained. “They came from a very poor life and they raised two boys, me and my brother, and we are so proud of them.

“My mother was in the stand and when I speak about them it breaks my heart all the time, more than the money or being a legend myself or whatever. It is knowing that my parents are with me in such a great moment. It is amazing and the most important thing I achieve here.”

“My daughter and my wife stay in Portugal and it is not easy. We have to work and take the steps to achieve what we want to accomplish. I am sure that I made the right decision coming here.”