Former Hearts manager Graham Rix is set to clash with club majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov in court next month.

Mr Rix is seeking £444,000 from the Tynecastle outfit at the Court of Session in Edinburgh following his dismissal in March last year.

In a preliminary hearing the judge due to hear the case, Lord Reed, said the former manager was going to have to give evidence and Mr Romanov senior and junior were thought to be required.

Mr Rix maintains his sacking was not justified and he is due damages for breach of contract, but the SPL club claim his dismissal was justified.

The ex-manager has also raised a motion to inhibit club assets ahead of the action but was offered a guarantee as alternative security by Lithuanian banking group UBIG.

His solicitor advocate Tim Edward told the judge there was still concern over the financial standing of UBIG.

He said: "If audited accounts were provided, provided these are satisfactory, then the guarantee should be acceptable."

He asked for further time to allow the latest audited accounts to be translated into English and Lord Reed agreed to a two-week continuation.