Romanov retains Robinson for consultancy

ALTHOUGH he purportedly severed his ties with Hearts over a week ago, former chief executive Chris Robinson's influence at Tynecastle is set to continue in the role of a consultant to Vladimir Romanov, the club's major shareholder.

Despite having attempted to relocate the club to Murrayfield, Robinson is the surprising choice identified by Romanov to help push through plans to redevelop Tynecastle.

While it was stressed that Robinson would take no money from the club - he is being paid by Romanov himself - the news has angered Hearts fans who thought that last Monday had seen the final cutting of his links to their team.

Romanov, speaking yesterday in his Lithuanian home town of Kaunas, ended this illusion when he confirmed he had been in discussions with Robinson regarding this new role. Although the project to redevelop Tynecastle will be headed by non-executive director Sergejus Fedotovas in association with new director Julija Goncaruk, and will also involve the input of world-renowned Italian architect Massimiliano Fuksas, Robinson has been asked to provide the local knowledge required when dealing with the council and other such likely obstacles.

Romanov spoke of Robinson being a man of his word and said he had a chance to restore his reputation in the eyes of the Hearts supporters. "Chris Robinson has another task not related to football," said Romanov. "It is related with land. If he fulfills this job well people will say he has been the perfect official. In the club there is a lack of people with his knowledge. He will be working but not for the club. He will be working for me.

"With Chris Robinson there was a situation where I bought some shares from him and what I liked most about him is that he always kept his word. What he thinks and what he says, he does. It's the same thing. His negative side was that he studied the intrigues of petty shareholders and the shareholders had an influence on the fans, and a useless war began."

The supporters who waged war with Robinson over keeping Hearts at Tynecastle are unlikely to consider their efforts to have been "useless" and many were astonished to learn yesterday that the former chief executive was being retained as an advisor.

Gary Mackay, the former club captain who was a figurehead for the Save Our Hearts pressure group, said: "I can understand that due to his workload, [new chief executive] Phil Anderton might need some assistance with the stadium development, but it's a huge disappointment to me personally that the man who published a booklet saying Tynecastle was not fit for purpose should be retained in this capacity."

Donald Ford, another former player who campaigned tirelessly to keep the club in Gorgie, was also taken aback at the news. "I'm astonished," he said. "Mr Romanov obviously has little in-depth knowledge of what Chris Robinson has done.

"One of the cornerstones of his 'Tynecastle: Not Fit For Purpose' document was that the pitch could not stage European games yet it has been adjusted subsequently to UEFA standards at minimum expense. I find it very difficult to believe they would want to retain his advice."

Romanov said his lifework was now to build a ground that will be recognised as one of the best in not just Britain, but also the world: "I have a dream to build the most beautiful stadium in the world in Edinburgh.

"Regarding that I have started to contact Mr Fuksas, who will try to realise this dream. There is too little land at Tynecastle but Mr Fuksas and myself think football stadiums should be in the centre of the city. The way out is to try and purchase the land around Tynecastle, but that is difficult."

He did, however, describe Tynecastle as "the first option", adding: "If I build this stadium, my life will be complete."

Taken from the Scotsman