Hapless Hearts hunt switches to Uganda and 'miracle man' Laszlo

The 44-year- old is currently national boss of Uganda, where he has been nicknamed ' the miracle man' by the African media after guiding his side from 167th to 91st in the FIFA rankings. 

Out of Africa? Casaba Laszlo, pictured left during his time as Ferencvaros manager (left), has close links with Tynecastle owner Vladimir Romanov

Tynecastle fans will best remember him as the man who became embroiled in a touchline confrontation with then manager John Robertson during a 1-0 UEFA Cup loss to Ferencvaros in December 2004.

Robertson seemed to aim a kick at Laszlo and claimed his opposite number had stood on his foot and he was simply trying to shake it off. 

Laszlo last night refused to confirm or deny reports in the capital that he had been offered the job by owner Vladimir Romanov following weeks of speculation surrounding a host of other targets.

He said: ' I know Mr Romanov very well. I know he has had some problems with coaches. But at the moment I don't think it is the time to talk about this.

'Maybe one time I will come. Why not?'

The Gorgie outfit have been hunting a new boss since Mark McGhee stunned officials by opting to remain at Motherwell, hours before he was due in Lithuania for final talks with Romanov.

Their embarrassment continued last week when Vladimir Weiss, a leading contender for the post, was appointed the new coach of Slovakia.

The Artmedia Bratislava boss was interviewed by Romanov before accepting his country's call without a reply to Tynecastle. Former Stoke boss Gudjon Thordarson had previously been linked with the post, with Scotland No 2 Terry Butcher tipped as a possible assistant.

However, with the new season only weeks away, Hearts remain rudderless following the shock decision last week to place caretaker boss Stevie Frail on 'gardening leave'.

Meanwhile, defender Jose Goncalves was last night finalising his departure from Tynecastle in a one-year loan move to German side Nuremberg.

The 22-year-old has been on the Bundesliga Two club's wanted list for some time but Romanov looked to have scuppered the move after reportedly turning down a £1million bid for the left back.

However, the Germans have proved persistent and, with Romanov needing to make financial cutbacks, have finally landed their target. It is understood Nuremberg have also reached an agreement with Hearts for a compensation fee of £200,000 should they want to buy the defender at the end of his loan agreement, which also marks the end of his contract in the capital.

Nuremberg sport director Martin Bader said: 'I don't have the papers yet but we have verbally agreed (a deal).'

The Portuguese Under-21 cap joins Ibrahim Tall and Mauricio Pinilla in leaving Hearts this summer, with continued speculation surrounding possible moves for skipper Christophe Berra and winger Andrew Driver.

Argentine midfielder Fernando Screpis' future is also uncertain following news that his agent will arrive in Edinburgh today for talks over a new contract.

The 29-year-old is tied to the club until 2011 but officials reportedly want to renegotiate the terms of his deal. Similar talks led to the departure of Pinilla earlier this week but Screpis' agent, Juan Cobian, insists his client wants to remain.

'Fernando wants to stay. He has got three years left on his contract and he is happy at Hearts,' he said. 'They want to negotiate the terms of his contract and that's why I'm coming over.'