PAULO SERGIO's future as manager of Hearts remained in some doubt last night after the Portuguese gave voice to his anger at the club's failure to extend his contract.
As celebrations continued yesterday following Saturday's William Hill Scottish Cup final victory over Hibernian, club owner Vladimir Romanov was already in Moscow, having neglected to discuss Sergio's future during his brief visit to Scotland.
Given that his deal expires in a matter of weeks, and he will return to his homeland on Wednesday, such ambivalence is a concern to Hearts supporters, who made clear their affection for the manager both at Hampden on Saturday and on the streets of Edinburgh yesterday.
Sergio himself took time amid the celebrations to make clear his frustration. "At this moment I have [been offered] nothing and that is bothering me and pissing me off a little bit," the manager admitted. "In this situation what I have to do is to book a flight and return home to my daughters. I'm here, people are here, but nobody has said anything. It is not my decision to stay. I have already said that I would like to. I don't want to stay at any price but at this moment there is no price – there is nothing.
"I'm not happy with this situation. I'm happy with our supporters, with our players, with all we did together in this season in hard conditions. But I think in a moment like this that things should be clearer. They are managing the club, they do what they want, what they think is normal to do. For me, we are losing too much time because normally at this time in the season, by the last game, I have things all done for the next season."
Regardless of what happens in the coming weeks, Sergio has earned himself a place in Hearts folklore after the 5-1 destruction of their city rivals at Hampden on Saturday. The former Sporting Lisbon coach acknowledged this yesterday, thanking the fans as well as the people who facilitated his rise to football prominence. "I was emotional in a moment when I was speaking about my family," Sergio said, his eyes moistening. "That always happens because I am very proud of my parents because they came from a very poor life and they raised two boys. My mother was in the stand and when I speak about them it breaks my heart all the time. More than the money or being a legend myself or whatever, it is knowing my parents are with me in such a moment."
And of Hearts? "I knew when I arrived that this was a big club. I didn't know it was this big, but I know now. It was a great reception, great crowd, great supporters. A fantastic experience being on the bus. But to feel that on the pitch, it is amazing.
"If I'm leaving Hearts, if I'm not going to stay next year, I will always have this club in my heart, for the rest of my life. It was great for me the way everybody has respected me here. I am very, very proud of that, so they will be with me forever."
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