Zaliukas won't play for Hearts again unless he drops wage demands

MARIUS ZALIUKAS will not play for Hearts again unless he dramatically reduces his wage demands. The Evening News learned today that the club captain has requested a salary worth over £1million a year during contract talks with majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov.

Zaliukas' loan from FBK Kaunas expires in December and he was invited back to his native Lithuania for discussions with Romanov and Hearts director Sergejus Fedotovas last weekend. Those talks failed to produce an agreement on a permanent contract with the Edinburgh club after the defender asked for wages and bonuses exceeding a total of 20,000 a week.

Senior club officials suspect Zaliukas is no longer 100 per cent committed Hearts and has deliberately priced himself far beyond the club's wage structure to ensure a transfer elsewhere. Further talks are expected and Hearts retain slim hope that a resolution can be reached. However, unless he reduces his expectations, Zaliukas will be faced with the prospect of returning to FBK Kaunas as Hearts refuse to adhere to what they consider "English Premier League wage demands".

Zaliukas, 26, was appointed club captain of Hearts only this month and is expected to play for Lithuania against Scotland in Kaunas on Friday night.