 Craig Gordon has had any uneasy relationship with Hearts |
Hearts head coach Valdas Ivanauskas insists that Craig Gordon remains his number one goalkeeper, despite again leaving out the Scotland international. The Edinburgh club appeared keen to sell their club captain, but Wednesday's transfer window closed with the 24-year-old still at Tynecastle.
Gordon was left on the bench for the Scottish Cup tie against Dunfermline.
But, asked if it was an indication that he would be frozen out for the rest of the season, Ivanauskas replied: "No."
Gordon had been left in the stand for last week's Scottish Premier League match at Ibrox.
Ivanauskas had claimed that he was still suffering from a groin injury that forced him to miss the previous match against Falkirk.
But, after watching Steve Banks play well again in his place, indications from Gordon himself were that he was fit to play.
Arsenal and Fulham are just two of the clubs being linked with Gordon.
And reports suggested that he this week refused a transfer to a Russian club.
"You don't know the situation with him exactly," Ivanauskas told BBC Sport while insisting that it was a "football decision" to leave out Gordon.
"This week, it's Steve Banks, but I am very happy that the transfer window is over.
"It's good for the players and good for Craig."
Gordon joined then captain Steven Pressley and Paul Hartley in going public about player unrest at the club in October.
But Pressley and Hartley have since left the club to join Celtic.