Hearts announced on Friday that they planned to retain the services of Thomson despite his conviction for "lewd, libidinous and indecent behaviour".

However, a short statement on the club's official website, www.heartsfc.co.uk, this morning read: "Hearts today announce that Craig Thomson is suspended with immediate effect. No further comment will be made by the club."

The full-back earlier this month pleaded guilty, was fined and placed on the sex offenders register in relation to his inappropriate conduct towards two under-age girls over the internet.

Speaking on Sky Sport News, ex-Jambos defender McLaren was asked if he expects Thomson to play for the club again and replied: "Hopefully not. Maybe that's up to Craig and he will maybe take it upon himself to resign.

"You feel for him, he has done something wrong and he has to accept responsibility for it. But hopefully he will not pull a Hearts shirt on again.

"It's going to be hard for him, regardless of where he goes.

"It will stay with him, it's not something he can shrug off, be it in this country or another country. He will still be what the courts have deemed him to be."

News of Hearts' initial decision to stand by Thomson resulted in one of the club's sponsors - MacB Water - announcing yesterday they were withdrawing support as official water sponsor of the Jambos, a deal worth more than £5,000.

McLaren added: "The whole of Edinburgh is in an uproar, and probably the whole of Scotland is in an uproar, over the way it has been handled.

"They should have made it quite clear that there is no place for Craig after the proceedings at court.

"The club have a huge family base. There are a lot of season tickets where kids can come along with their parents.

"They tried to make it a family club and it has been a family club for years but this scenario has put it backwards."

Derek Watson, chairman of the Hearts Supporters' Trust, hopes Hearts' reputation as a family club will remain intact.

He told Press Association Sport: "That's something we will find out over time.

"I'm just pleased that they are looking at the situation again. That's the right decision on their part."

However, Watson refused to be drawn on whether Thomson should have a future as a Hearts player.

He said: "That's up to the board at the end of the day. I'm not going to comment on what is obviously a difficult case.

"That's up to the football club and we will make a comment once they have made a decision rather than speculating on it."

Responding to today's statement from Hearts, Anne Houston, chief executive of CHILDREN 1ST, said: "Throughout this situation, CHILDREN 1ST's concern - as it always is - has been for the welfare of children and ensuring that we are all taking responsibility to protect them.

"The specific reason why Hearts have suspended Craig Thomson is unclear and it is therefore inappropriate to comment directly on the suspension.

"The reason we got involved in this issue was because of our long-standing commitment to protecting children and ensuring they are safe and secure.

"We would maintain that there is no place in our society for public role models who have been convicted of sexual offences against children, no matter what other talents they might have."