Berra future uncertain

The Tynecastle club are still searching for a new manager having failed in bids to land Mark McGhee from Motherwell, Artmedia coach Vladimir Weiss and former Hertha Berlin boss Jurgen Rober.

And they were plunged into further turmoil last week when caretaker Stevie Frail was placed on gardening leave by majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov.

Skipper Berra has been linked with a move to Wolves and Rangers so far this summer and admitted his future is still up in the air as he returned for the first full day of pre-season training on Monday.

The 22-year-old defender, who made his Scotland debut against Czech Republic in May, told the Edinburgh Evening News: "At the moment I am a Hearts player and, even if I do play for another club in the future, no matter who it is, I will always give 110 per cent for them.

"I was in last week doing tests and I gave it my all, as I will in training and in games for Hearts, that's just the way I am.

"No matter whether I stay here - and I don't know whether I will be or not because it is down to Mr Romanov to decide whether he wants to sell me - I will remain committed.

"I am a young player and I want to develop, I want to prove myself and the way that I go about that is by working hard in training and in games.

"There has been speculation, but the first I knew about it was when I picked up the papers.

"When you're a player though there is always going to be speculation and you have just got to deal with it. It has happened to me in the past and I have just got on with it.

"I am a professional and, as I say, no matter who I play for I will always give 110 per cent and that is all that matters."

Hearts have been looking for a 'football manager' since January 1 and skipper Berra believes the club must appoint someone soon or pay the consequences next season.

He said: "Hearts have massive potential but we need to have stability on and off the pitch.

"The fact that we don't have a manager in place yet is a big factor because it means that you can't bring in any new players because they might not be who the new man wants or might not play the way that he wants.

"The sooner we get someone in, the better."