Sporting director takes over Hearts coach post

Anatoly Korobochka was tonight named interim head coach at Hearts in a move which cast more doubt on the Tynecastle future of Valdas Ivanauskas.

Hearts stated that Ivanauskas was “away on football business on behalf of the club” as they handed their sporting director the reins.

Ivanauskas – still officially the permanent head coach – has not been seen by the Hearts players since their 1-1 draw with St Mirren on February 17.

He left for a break in Germany and has since reportedly travelled to Turkey, where FBK Kaunas – the Lithuanian club owned by Hearts majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov – have been holding a training camp.