Burley flies back after Romanov talks in Lithuania

GEORGE Burley travelled home last night after two days of talks in Lithuania with Hearts' major shareholder Vladimir Romanov over the managerial vacancy at Tynecastle, but without being offered the position.

The former Derby County manager may be emerging as the favourite to succeed John Robertson but it could be next week before a decision is reached by either club or candidate.

Discussions between Burley, Romanov and Hearts chief executive Phil Anderton, which began on Monday night and continued throughout yesterday, are understood to have been positive. Romanov, who is determined to take a hands-on role in determining the man he feels can take the club forward in the direction he craves, was keen to ascertain whether Burley identified with his objectives. From Burley's viewpoint, it was his first opportunity to have any direct contact with Hearts and form an impression of his prospective employers, the first moves from the club having been to his agent Athole Still while he was on holiday.

While both Anderton and Hearts chairman George Foulkes have expressed the hope a firm announcement on a new manager could be made this week, that is by no means certain. Burley may now be in pole position, if he decides he wants the job, but the veteran Italian coach Nevio Scala remains in the frame.

Burley, who cut his managerial teeth at Ayr United before enjoying successful periods at both Ipswich Town and Derby, has already turned down the opportunity to take charge at Millwall this summer. His name was also inevitably linked yesterday with the vacancy at Stoke City following the dismissal of Tony Pulis as manager.

Burley was the No1 target for Stoke back in October 2002, when he initially agreed to succeed Steve Cotterill at the club, and it has been suggested he could be offered the job again this time around. Gunnar Thor Gislason, the Stoke chairman, has called a media conference for today.

Taken from the Scotsman