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Sunday, 19 November 2006, 18:07 GMT

Pressley dropped as fans protest

Steven Pressley and Robbie Neilson on the bench at Tynecastle

Hearts captain Steven Pressley was dropped to the bench for the 1-0 SPL defeat by Rangers at Tynecastle.

Pressley missed the side's league game against Falkirk last Monday, after sporting director Alex Koslovski said he was "not mentally fit" to play.

About 200 Hearts fans protested outside Tynecastle after the game over affairs at the Edinburgh club.

A number of people were arrested by Lothian and Borders Police during the hour-long demonstration.

Paul Hartley was given the captain's armband in Pressley's absence.

The defeat by Rangers was Hearts' final game before Eduard Malofeev stands down as temporary head coach.

Malofeev took over from Valdas Ivanauskas, who was given leave following illness.

Eugenijus Riabovas will take over on Monday.

He will become the third straight Hearts head coach to have previously been in charge of Kaunas, the Lithuanian club sponsored by Tynecastle owner Vladimir Romanov.

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Related to this story:

Pressley does not expect return (17 Nov 06 | Heart of Midlothian )
Hearts players warned over form (16 Nov 06 | Heart of Midlothian )
Pressley holds talks with union (15 Nov 06 | Heart of Midlothian )
Pressley plays despite outburst (28 Oct 06 | Scottish Premier )
Foulkes and Salmond back Pressley (27 Oct 06 | Heart of Midlothian )

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