Convicted Thomson waits to learn if he has a future at Hearts

CRAIG Thomson's career at Hearts is hanging in the balance as heawaits a meeting with the club's senior management in the wake ofhis court conviction for sexual offences against two underagegirls.The 20-year-old defender will be called before Hearts managerJim Jefferies and managing director David Southern on their returnfrom holiday next week as the Tynecastle club decide what form ofdisciplinary action to take against their employee. VladimirRomanov, the Hearts owner, is likely to have the final say inwhether the player remains at the club. Thomson was placed on theSex Offenders' Register on Thursday after pleading guilty atEdinburgh Sheriff Court to two charges of indecent behaviour. He wasalso fined GBP4,000 for his lewd, libidinous and indecent behaviourover the internet to two girls aged 12 and 14. He will remain on theregister for five years.The Scotland under-21 international is undercontract to Hearts for another two years. A club spokesman issued abrief statement last night, simply confirming that Hearts willconduct their own investigation into Thomson's conduct. "The clubwill go through the necessary internal procedures relating to thecase," said the spokesman. "No further comment will be made at thisstage."PFA Scotland, the players' union, of which Thomson is amember, will not be represented at his meeting with Heartsmanagement but could become involved later, depending on theseverity of any punishment imposed by the club. Thomson wasinitially arrested for the sexual offences last September and inJanuary this year, while awaiting his court appearance, he expressedhis gratitude for the support he had received from Hearts. "Footballis my life and I will focus on that before anything," said Thomson."This has been a learning curve. The management and all the staff atTynecastle have been different class with me. That has helpedenormously."Primarily a right-back, last season saw the Bonnyriggyoungster, who has been on Hearts' books since he was 10, become anestablished first-team player under Jefferies.Thomson was regardedas a key member of the Scotland squad for their 2013 European under-21 Championship qualifying campaign, which begins in September, buthis burgeoning career with both club and country could now be nippedin the bud as a consequence of his criminal conviction.