Hearts director Sergejus Fedotovas insists Valdas Ivanauskas remains "officially" the club's head coach despite not being seen at Tynecastle for 11 days.

Hearts last night called a press conference for this morning to reveal a "major announcement", amid speculation Ivanauskas would relinquish his coaching role and become director of football.

However, the club announced a major kit deal with Umbro worth a seven-figure sum for each of the following two seasons.

Fellow Lithuanian Kestutis Latoza has been earmarked as a potential replacement for Ivanauskas, with the head coach still absent after leaving for a short break in Germany following the draw with St Mirren on February 17th.

Former Lithuania boss Latoza has admitted holding talks with Hearts majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov, but would not confirm whether they were concerning a role at Tynecastle.

Non-executive director Fedotovas confirmed Ivanauskas had not been replaced.

He said: "Officially he is still the coach of the club. When we decide any issues concerned with coaching positions we will inform you in the official way. We have good news all the time but most of the media just don't want to notice that.

"I thought a lot of media guys are here today to find out we have changed the coach and there were not very smiley faces around when they found out we were having the Umbro announcement.

"For me that was the main news."