Hearts move closer to Anderton deal

Lawyers are discussing a contract for the 39-year-old, who resigned from his Murrayfield post during the recent SRU power struggle.

George Foulkes, the Hearts chairman, said it would be un-fair to discuss the names of the candidates which the club had targeted for the post. "We've had a number of notes of interest for the post and hope to make an appointment sooner rather than later," he said.

Vladimir Romanov, Hearts' new majority shareholder, was impressed with Anderton's work at the SRU.

Appointing him would be an astute move as it would give the club a Scot in a position of power after Romanov's involvement meant it fell into foreign hands for the first time.

The Herald understands that the position is Anderton's if he wants it, and he said: "I have been looking at my options but sports administration is something I enjoy and would like to continue to be involved in."

Romanov has appointed new board members, lifted the threat of Hearts having to leave Tyne-castle and promised to bring in new players.

Anatoly Byshovets, a close friend of Romanov, was to have been appointed director of foot-ball but that plan has now been shelved. Byshovets will remain a scout at Hearts but John Robertson will be left to run the club. Foulkes said: "The intention was, and remains, to use Anatoly for his contacts around the world.

"He will look at players and suggest them to Mr Romanov for Hearts but, ultimately, John Robertson will have the final say. There was a perception that he was coming in as a director of football but that is not the case."

Meanwhile, Hearts' Tennent's Scottish Cup quarter-final tie with Livingston has been moved from Saturday, February 26 to the following day to avoid a clash with Scotland's RBS 6 Nations game against Italy at Murrayfield.

Taken from the Herald