Hearts owe me, claims axed Screpis

HEARTS replaced one midfielder with another over the weekend as Ugandan international David Obua arrived in place of Fernando Screpis, who has been deemed surplus to requirements by the club.

Screpis' Hearts career is over after just five first-team appearances and, as such, the midfielder appeared on trial for Plymouth Argyle on Friday evening – but he will still pursue a pay-off for the three remaining years on his Hearts contract.

The Argentine has been told he has no future at Tynecastle and did not travel with the squad to their German training base in Wiesbaden last night, but Screpis maintains his current £1500-a-week contract runs until 2011 and that he should be paid in full.

He told the Evening News: "Hearts are telling me my contract is cancelled.

"According to the contract I signed last July I have three years left, so I am waiting for the club to contact me about this.

"I am sad to leave but I don't think I was given enough chances in the team. I don't think I was treated fairly. Anatoli Korobochka treated me well but some others at the club did not.

"I find it strange that the new manager only saw me play for less than 40 minutes but then I am told there is no place for me."

In a meeting with sport director Anatoli Korobochka last week, Screpis was informed he would play no part in the German tour or the forthcoming domestic campaign.

The 29-year-old played five times in the SPL last season after arriving from FBK Kaunas in January. He began fearing for his future after reporting back to Riccarton for pre-season last month and subsequently learned that his original deal could be re-negotiated. Agent Juan Cobian attempted to persuade officials of both Hearts and Ukio Bankas Investment Group, the club's parent company, to retain the midfielder, but to no avail.

Anthony Basso and Calum Elliot were the other notable absentees from the 24-man party which arrived in Germany. The goalkeeper appears to have fallen completely from favour whilst Elliot is keen to settle his future, with Inverness one of several clubs interested in brokering a loan agreement with Hearts.

Obua was scheduled to fly in to Germany today to join his new colleagues, although Robbie Neilson, Mirsad Beslija and Bruno Aguiar have remained in Edinburgh due to fitness problems. Teenagers Matej Rapnik, Ryan McGowan, Gary Glen and David Templeton travelled with the squad.

Subject to a successful work permit application, 24-year-old Obua will become new manager Csaba Laszlo's first new recruit. The Evening News website revealed on Friday that the player was in Edinburgh for talks with Hearts and the club confirmed his prospective signing yesterday.

Obua is comfortable at left midfield but can also operate centrally or in defence.

Meanwhile, Uganda's Under-20 coach, Jackson Mayanja, is in discussions with Hearts over the possibility of becoming Laszlo's assistant.