Calum Elliot: I can't wait to leave Hearts

HEARTS striker Calum Elliot revealed today he's desperate for a new manager to be installed at Tynecastle – so he can quit the club.

The Scotland under-21 internationalist told the Evening News in April that he would consider his options over the summer but, for the first time, he has admitted he sees his future elsewhere.

The striker endured a miserable last season with the Jambos netting only four goals for the first team as he found himself the target of the Tynecastle boo-boys on several occasions.

Although Elliot received the public backing of interim head coach Stephen Frail, it was clear his performances were being affected and his frustrations twice boiled over as he was sent off. Inverness Caley Thistle have declared an interest in Elliot, who still has three years of a five-year deal remaining, but his future is in limbo until a new manager is installed.

Slovakian Vladimir Weiss had claimed he would announce on Monday whether he would be on his way to Hearts but failed to do so and then missed a subsequent deadline set by the club.

Hearts players are due to return to training at Riccarton next Wednesday and it would appear no announcement on the management team is imminent.

"I am waiting to see what is happening regarding the managerial situation at Hearts," said Elliot.

"The quicker it gets done, the better it is for me because I am looking to get away. I will have to wait until the manager is in place before anything can happen."

Elliot's agent, Jim McArthur, confirmed to the Evening News: "There is nothing going to happen until a new coach is appointed and then the new coach will decide what he's going to do with Calum."

With Hearts fans waiting for news on the manager search which began on January 1, it appears the chances of interim head coach Stephen Frail still being in charge for the start of pre-season have increased.

Frail's position at the club looked in jeopardy at the end of last season after a disappointing run of results although he, and sport director Anatoli Korobochka, could now be asked to take charge until a new boss is appointed.

A Hearts spokesperson said: "Stephen is very much still at the club.

"If nothing has been resolved by then I would imagine he will be asked to take the players next week."

Meanwhile, Burnley chairman Barry Kilby has re-iterated Owen Coyle's determination not to be held to ransom by Hearts in their bid to prise winger Andy Driver away from Tynecastle.

The Turf Moor outfit have had two bids for Driver rejected by Hearts so far with the latest understood to have been in the region of 750,000 plus a series of add-ons.

When asked about Burnley's failure to thus far land any of their summer targets, Kilby was adamant they would not pay over the odds for a player or change the way they do business.

"As a club we like to play our hand as we see fit," he said.

"You always have to keep a watchful eye on a club that's losing 4 million a year (Burnley).

"The big thing is maintaining a very high wage bill that we've got."