Chairman: Hartley stays at Hearts

Hearts chairman Roman Romanov is adamant midfielder Paul Hartley is going nowhere.

A report over the weekend claimed the Bank of Scotland Premier League high-fliers were looking to cash in on the Scotland international during the January transfer window.

But the acting chief executive moved swiftly to ease the fears of the Tynecastle supporters, who must be concerned at their recent run of results.

Romanov said: “The story relating to Paul Hartley leaving Hearts is total nonsense.

“It is a typical attempt to unsettle our team at a time when we as a club are working hard together to improve our current situation.

“Paul is a Hearts player now and will be in the future. He recently re-signed a contract with the club on renewed terms and he will be playing an integral part in our on-field development.”

Robbie Neilson admits his Hearts team-mates are struggling to live up to the standards they set earlier in the season.

The Edinburgh side’s championship bid is veering off track following their defeat at Ibrox on Saturday.

Pressure is mounting on first-team coach Graham Rix but Neilson insists the players will be doing everything in their power to regain their form.

Neilson said: “We just seem to be struggling. I don’t know what it is.

“I don’t know if it’s belief, but we are in the best position we have been in for years so really we should be as confident as we can be, but it just doesn’t seem to be happening.

“We need to address it and try to get our heads together and figure it out.

“It’s not good enough. We set out our standards at the beginning of the season and we are failing to live up to them.”

Hearts are still unbeaten at home this season but are aware victory against Falkirk at Tynecastle on Boxing Day is vital to their trophy chances in the new year.

“It’s a must-win game,” Neilson added.

The defeat at the hands of Rangers could also have been much worst but for the heroics of goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

“We never turned up in the first half,” admitted full-back Neilson. “In the second half we got into it a bit more but never really created any chances.

“We never really looked like we were going to score. Craig saved a few for us, that’s what he is there for, but he proved his worth.”

To make matters worse for Hearts they had Saulius Mikoliunas sent off for a challenge on Barry Ferguson.

But the Scotland Future international told the club’s website, www.Heartsfc.co.uk: “I thought it was a harsh sending-off.

“It was a silly tackle but I don’t think it was malicious but the referee saw it differently.”