The Federation of Ugandan Football Associations (FUFA] complained that the Hungarian illegally broke his contract two years early to join Hearts. "He is still our coach because he did not give us the three months notice in the contract, did not hand over the house, car and other items before he left," said Lawrence Mulindwa, the Federation president.

Those claims against his integrity have irked Laszlo and prompted him to defend his conduct. He was appointed manager of Hearts on Friday, July 11, and stressed he rightfully walked free from Uganda. "At the moment there's big confusion about this. I quit my contract with Uganda and I know it's not easy for a team who had a very successful coach to lose him," said Laszlo. "But I had the possibility to quit even if a lot of times the Ugandan FA said I was paid everything.

"I have all the evidence and we have the lawyers involved. I wish the Ugandan FA all the best and Hearts haven't closed the door to them. We told the Ugandan FA we are available at any time to talk and to make negotiations. We've even taken a player here from Uganda and shown we don't like to close the door.

"The contract was over four years, I had two years and two other years. But I had the possibility to break the contract because they'd broken it a lot of times already. Even before I came to Scotland I spoke with the president and he told me, 'okay, if you want to go, we can't keep you. We don't want to cut your career, you've done a very good job here and after negotiations you can go to Hearts'.

"I got the car. The car is now in the compound. I had a house which I rented from FUFA, the house is still there. I didn't take it in my pocket. Today I gave the possibility for my lawyer to go together with the FUFA people to give everything so things can be finalised officially.

"In the papers they say I haven't given the car back. If FUFA want the car back, if they want to take the things from the house that is there. But I want to make this official, now my lawyer in Uganda can give the signature that everything is finished. For us in Europe this is normal but for them it is big trouble."

The attempt by Mulindwa to besmirch Laszlo's character appears less one-sided the more the Hungarian speaks on the matter. He continued: "For the last two months he (Mulindwa] didn't give me my money until the last day before I came to Scotland to talk with Hearts. He gave it to me at the last minute, a cheque for the two months. Before, if I'd call he'd never answer his phone, I never had a chance to get my money. Suddenly there he was.

"I'm not angry about this though, it's okay. I also read I haven't paid my manager. My manager is a very good friend for me and every year he always has his money. I don't have any debts to people and in the future I never will. Now I hope Uganda can qualify for the next African Cup of Nations and Hearts can qualify for the UEFA Cup. And after everyone is happy."

Laszlo puts the Africans' claims down to nothing other than bad taste, adding that recent statements from Ugandan Under-20 coach Jackson Mayanja saying he was in negotiations with Hearts are incorrect: "We aren't angry with anyone and I know the African journalists, the African people and maybe 20 per cent of what you read is true," he said.

"If I call the president he'll say he's never given an interview. I even heard today my former co-trainer Jackson Mayanja was in the paper saying I had called wanting him to come to Hearts. This is not true. We have coaching staff here and we're working with that coaching staff. We don't want to change at the moment. Maybe the attitude to be better, but not the people.

"I called this guy (Mayanja] to ask why he'd said something that wasn't true and he said he never spoke with a newspaper."

Although FUFA have threatened to report Laszlo to FIFA, the Hearts manager believes their bolshy talk and lack of action thus far says much about the truth of the situation. "If they take me to FIFA I think I have a very good chance to make a lot of money. So maybe this is the best way," he laughed.

"But let me put it this way. If they are so sure why didn't they go to FIFA two weeks ago? He (Mulindwa] knows 100 per cent, everyone knows I have a lot of evidence. I didn't get paid and the case is very clear."