Slovaks in last ditch bid to keep Hearts target Weiss

Weiss was in Lithuania over the weekend to meet Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov to discuss the vacant manager's position.

The 43-year-old Slovakian, who helped Artmedia to a league and cup double last season, is understood to have impressed during the talks and was asked whether he would accept a position with the Jambos if offered.

Weiss, who has also bossed Russian outfit Saturn Ramenskoye, has already stated that the chance to manage in Scotland is one which appeals to him but he is close friends with Kmotrik and his club hope this relationship will help them hold onto their man.

Weiss said: "Today I will say whether it is possible for me to become manager of Hearts."

Ironically, should Weiss be appointed, his first competitive match in charge would be against Motherwell at Tynecastle where he would come face to face with Mark McGhee, the man the Jambos originally wanted to boss the club.

Hearts said in a statement at the start of the year that they wanted a manager with "British football experience", criteria that Weiss fails to meet.

However, the fact he speaks Russian, enabling him to communicate directly with Romanov, and also has an excellent track record in Eastern Europe, are skills that have helped him emerge as a front runner for the position.

Icelander Gudjon Thordarson, manager of IA Akranes, who has previously had spells at Stoke City, Barnsley and Notts County, and Belarussian Andrei Zygmantovich are the other two names on the Hearts shortlist.

Meanwhile, Hearts face a difficult start to the new season after the SPL fixtures were released today.

UEFA Cup qualifiers Motherwell travel to the Capital on Saturday, August 9, where manager McGhee will be sure of a warm reception from the home fans after rejecting the opportunity to swap Fir Park for Tynecastle last month.

The former Millwall manager was top of Romanov's shortlist but the move collapsed when McGhee had a late re-think and chose to stay in Lanarkshire instead.

The fixture list doesn't get any easier for the men in maroon either as they face Rangers at Ibrox the following week where they are likely to come up against their top scorer last season, Andrius Velicka, who was expected to seal a move from Viking Stavanger to the Glasgow side today.