Latoza: Hearts link is just rumour

Former Lithuania manager Kestutits Latoza has refused to confirm reports he is being lined up as the next head coach of Hearts.

Valdas Ivanauskas is reported to be switching to the director of football role following less than a year in the post.

Latoza told The Scottish Daily Express: "I don’t know anything right now and there has been nothing agreed with Hearts.

“If something happens it happens, but at this moment it is nothing more than a rumour.”

Ivanauskas left for a short break in Germany last week with Hearts not in action on Scottish Cup quarter-final weekend, but did not return at the end of the week as expected.

He is understood to have been in Turkey at a training camp for FBK Kaunas over the last few days.

Ivanauskas, who had a five-week absence due to poor health in October and November, admitted he was in a “very tense situation” before he set off.