Skipper Berra in the dark over his future at Hearts

CHRISTOPHE BERRA today admitted he has no idea whether he'll start the season as a Hearts player – but the Tynecastle skipper insisted he will remain 100 per cent committed to the club as long as he is on their books.

The 22-year-old defender has been linked with a move to both Wolves and Rangers this summer, with the English side reported to have upped their valuation of the player to around 2million.

Jambos fans have already seen the likes of Andrius Velicka and Roman Bednar quit the club in recent months and it seems that Berra could be next to follow them out of the door.

While insisting that he believes he can continue to develop in the SPL, Berra conceded that he may not have a choice if club owner Vladimir Romanov decides to sell him.

He said: "At the moment I am a Hearts player and, even if I do play for another club in the future, no matter who it is, I will always give 110 per cent for them. I was in last week doing tests and I gave it my all, as I will in training and in games for Hearts, that's just the way I am.

"No matter whether I stay here – and I don't know whether I will be or not because it is down to Mr Romanov to decide whether he wants to sell me – I will remain committed. I am a young player and I want to develop, I want to prove myself and the way that I go about that is by working hard in training and in games.

"There has been speculation, but the first I knew about it was when I picked up the papers. When you're a player though there is always going to be speculation and you have just got to deal with it. It has happened to me in the past and I have just got on with it. I am a professional and, as I say, no matter who I play for I will always give 110 per cent and that is all that matters."

The speculation surrounding Berra's future only adds to the uncertainty over who will manage the Tynecastle side next season.

The Hearts players were due to report for their first full day of pre-season training today but, with no manager yet appointed and interim head coach Stephen Frail placed on gardening leave, fitness coach Tam Ritchie has been charged with the responsibility of putting the squad through their paces.

Mark McGhee and Vladimir Weiss have already turned the position down after speaking with Romanov and his latest target, Jurgen Rober admitted today that he is just as unlikely to become the club's next manager. Rober met with Romanov in Lithuania at the end of last week and said: "I believe my chance of getting the job is no more than ten per cent. I haven't spoken with Romanov since I left Lithuania."

Berra insisted that Hearts must appoint a new manager as soon as possible if they are to give themselves a real chance of returning to the top half of the table next season, adding: "Hearts have massive potential but we need to have stability on and off the pitch.

"The fact that we don't have a manager in place yet is a big factor because it means that you can't bring in any new players because they might not be who the new man wants or might not play the way that he wants.

"The sooner we get someone in, the better."

Meanwhile, the Tynecastle outfit revealed that, despite the turmoil off the pitch, there has been a 400 per cent increase in online sales of their new away kit, which was officially launched on Friday.

The club's new online shop, www.heartsdirect.co.uk, has proved a popular way for supporters to get their hand on the strip.

The home kit is due to be unveiled next month and a club spokesman said: "We're absolutely thrilled with the uptake of the new away shirt. Sales have been fantastic, particularly the pre-orders. Supporters are genuinely excited by the new, unique design, which is really true to our Scottish roots."