Romanov to meet Hearts boss Jefferies over future plans

THE Hearts board are to hold an end-of-season review with Jim Jefferies over his future plans for the club, with the manager stating today that he anticipates nothing other than amicable progress towards season 2010/11.

Jefferies expects to convene with Hearts' majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov, director Sergejus Fedotovas and sport director Alexandr Metlitski in May to outline his vision for the year ahead. He intends to have conducted a full assessment of the playing staff by then and will report on who should remain part of the squad.

Jefferies' own position is also likely to be discussed but he stressed that the Tynecastle hierarchy's support has been unrelenting since he replaced Csaba Laszlo at the end of January.

"We've talked about a contract with a (review] clause but that's something we'll discuss anyway," he told the Evening News. "I think there have been comments made saying they (the board] have been happy with how things have gone since we came in. I've been delighted with the response of the players.

"I've had nothing but support in everything I've tried to do. The board have been fine with me and they are happy so I don't see any problems. We need to try and get into the top six and, if everybody's happy, both sides can look forward to next season.

"Sergey, Alex and I talk regularly and we've said we will sit down at the end of the season. My remit was to get the team in the top six and at the same time get a chance to look at the playing staff. We will sit down at the end of the season with the owner and decide which positions are key to improving. I'm still assessing everybody just now."

Jefferies revealed today that teenage striker Scott Robinson, who has resumed training following a knee injury, will be included in the squad for Saturday's SPL encounter with Motherwell. Jefferies said: "Scott is back in training so, depending how he goes, he will be in the squad. If he doesn't start he'll at least be on the bench. We'll discuss it with the physio.

"Craig Thomson is going to start training next week so we'll see how he goes. Dawid Kucharski is going to train tomorrow so it will be a case of assessing him before Saturday. Ismael Bouzid and Marius Zaliukas are definitely out. Those two are probably looking at another two or three weeks."

Jose Goncalves may come into contention once again depending what options are available to the manager. "He hasn't trained too much because he's been a bit stiff, which I expected after not playing for such a while. We will assess him later in the week."