Gordon denies snub over captaincy

Hearts keeper Craig Gordon has denied that his failure to accept the captain’s armband during the draw with St Mirren was a snub to the Tynecastle club.

The Scotland number one refused to take the armband from Paul Hartley after his international team-mate was sent off late in the 2-2 draw.

Hartley – who was standing in for the omitted Steven Pressley – then threw the armband in the direction of full-back Robbie Neilson, who recently celebrated 10 years at the club.

Gordon told club officials after the match his decision was out of respect for Neilson and he explained further today.

The 23-year-old told www.heartsfc.co.uk: “There is no way that I would refuse the captaincy.

“It had not been decided before the game that I was to be vice-captain. In previous seasons if either the captain or vice-captain was not playing then Robbie got the armband.

“For example, I remember when Robbie was captain away to Dunfermline. I felt it was about showing him respect and that is why I said to Paul to ‘give it to him’.

“He has also played more games than me and with that I just felt he was owed respect in that situation. This is not to say I would not want the Hearts captaincy – it would be an honour.

“If I had known it would cause a reaction I would have taken it but I felt I should show some respect to Robbie – nothing else.”

Hearts have remained silent on the future of Pressley after he was apparently suspended by the club.

The defender, flanked by Gordon and Hartley, revealed “significant unrest” in the dressing room in October, and was dropped for two games the following month by acting coach Eduard Malofeev amid reports of a plot to oust him as captain.

The 33-year-old was recalled for the trip to Inverness with majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov describing him as the “cement” in the team.

But his reprieve lasted just one game and he was omitted on Saturday despite being fit and available for selection.

Scottish Professional Footballers Association secretary Fraser Wishart vowed to give Pressley legal support to challenge his “wholly unjustified” treatment.

And Lithuanian striker Edgaras Jankauskas denied knowledge of any plot to topple his skipper or a rift between his countrymen and other players.

Head coach Valdas Ivanauskas – who returned to the dugout at Paisley after a five-week absence for health reasons – hinted the club would speak on the matter on Sunday or Monday but Hearts have so far refused to comment.