Goalkeeper Marian Kello is unlikely to play for Hearts in Wednesday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash withCeltic unless a "political" issue can be resolved, manager Paulo Sergio has said.
Slovakian Kello, who is out of contract at the end of the season, reportedly turned down a move to Austria Vienna on transfer deadline day last week, preferring to stay at Tynecastle.
However, his decision appears to have upset Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov and director Sergejus Fedotovas and although he warmed up with the team, it was Jamie MacDonald who played in goal in the 1-1 William Hill Scottish Cup fifth-round stalemate yesterday.
Sergio said: "There is an issue running between him (Kello) and our board, a political thing. It's not up to me to explain that.
"I was told that because Marian is not committed with the future with Hearts, we should play the others. It's a tough situation. It's not a good thing for us."
