Another Hearts exit

Unreserved Rafa

Saints reject Bates statue

—– Heart of Midlothian are seeking yet another manager after Valdas Ivanauskas leaves the Edinburgh club by ‘mutual consent’.
The 40 year-old Lithuanian had been reported to be absent for the last three weeks on football business.
Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov insists: “Valdas made the request to leave his role as head coach.”
Ivanauskas was named caretaker coach following the sacking of Graham Rix last March before being handed the job on a permanent basis in the summer.
Fellow Lithuanian Anatoly Korobochka takes over on a temporary basis.

—– Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez revives the debate about Premiership clubs being allowed to field their reserve team in the Football League.
His main gripe is that the current reserves set-up does not allow his younger players to develop as quickly as he would like: “I would like to see reserve teams of the big clubs like ourselves playing in the Football League. Why not if they have enough quality?
“Our young players may have the quality but not the experience for the first team. They are only on the bench. That will bridge the gap between the youngsters and the first team.”
In his native Spain, the Reds boss previously managed Real Madrid’s B team which - along with other leading clubs’ second string - played in the country’s lower divisions.
That is in total contrast to English culture, and all Football League chairman and managers who are quizzed on the subject condemn the suggestion.

—– Southampton decide to pull down the controversial statue of Saints legend Ted Bates.
The St Mary’s club have been inundated with complaints since sculptor Ian Brennan’s £112,000 statue was unveiled on Saturday.
Many supporters feel it more closely resembles Milan Mandaric - the former chairman of bitter rivals Portsmouth.
Ted Bates, who served the Saints for 66 years, died in November 2003.
If the existing 16ft statue cannot be suitably altered, the club confirm the project would begin again from scratch.