Goalkeeper Marian Kello does not know if he will play for Hearts again after risking reprisals from owner Vladimir Romanov and the club's board for speaking out over his omission from the team.
Kello missed Sunday's 1-1 William Hill Scottish Cup draw with St Johnstone and is set to remain unavailable for selection for Wednesday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with Celtic after clashing with the Hearts board over his refusal to move to Austria Vienna on transfer deadline day.
With the media assembled for Tuesday's pre-match press conference ahead of the Celtic game, Kello opted to hold an impromptu briefing of his own to tell his side of the story.
"I don't know exactly what is going to happen," said Kello, who is out of contract at the end of the season and says he has not been offered a new deal.
"The situation is very difficult. They should show me respect. For example, if they want me to negotiate a new contract, don't force me out of here."
Hearts' financial predicament is well documented, with a winding-up petition currently being processed through the Court of Session over an unpaid tax bill the club are confident of paying.
And Kello appears to have angered Romanov and director Sergejus Fedotovas after the club missed out on a 100,000 euro (£83,000) fee for him.
Kello was unhappy at the 18-month contract offered and being coerced into the move.
He added: "I want to play for Hearts. They said they don't want me because next season, because of the money problem, they want to work with the youngsters.
"The club have signed two young keepers, I've been told. I don't figure in the future of the club. I was not offered a new contract. They forced me to go and they were saying 'If you don't go, you might not play'."
The 29-year-old Slovakia international had missed training last week with a back complaint but warmed up for the Saints match and was fit to play.
Kello said: "If I have a chance to play, I will play. I will play 100% because it was the club who gave me the chance to be here, to improve and to get into the (Slovakia) national team.
"I've been here for three and a half years. I've tried to be honest and fight for the club and they just try to put me down all the time. I don't know why. I try always my best for the club."
Kello has not spoken to the Hearts hierarchy since transfer deadline day, with manager Paulo Sergio acting as a go-between.
Kello said: "Last time we discussed the situation it was January 31 and after that it was just the manager who talked to them, to try to convince them to let me play."
Sergio maintains Kello is his first-choice goalkeeper, but appears to back the decision to select Jamie MacDonald and give Mark Ridgers a place on the bench.
The Portuguese boss said: "There is an issue and the issue is clear. The future of Kello is not going to be at Hearts.
"If his future is not linked with our club, I think it's fair enough to let the others play. This protects the club and protects the player too.
"Imagine tomorrow Kello made a big mistake, it would not be good for him."
Kello is in discussions over a move at the end of the season but he does not want to join Celtic, where he believes he would not be first choice.
He added: "It's not like I don't want to be playing. It's not like I want to go to Celtic, which is in the papers. I would sit there on the bench in the Scottish league. For me there's no point."
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