Fans' anger over new role for Robinson

HEARTS supporters have been ravished with new arrivals of late, but the return of a distinctly more familiar face even to within a country mile of Tynecastle is certain to raise hairs on the backs of necks.

Vladimir Romanov, shrewd businessman that he is, appears to have provoked a mini revolt amongst his club's fans by recruiting Gorgie's figure of hate Chris Robinson in a consultancy role.

In an astonishing twist, the former chairman will be required to assist and inform the Lithuanian on plans to redevelop Tynecastle, a stadium he infamously deemed not fit for purpose. Ever wish you could turn the clock back Chris, and reword that statement?

Romanov is also considering the possibility of relocating Hearts elsewhere in Edinburgh, but wherever Robinson goes in the city his lynch mob are sure to follow.

"Chris Robinson was trying to find a new home for Hearts for several years, according to him, and got absolutely nowhere," pointed out Derek Watson, secretary of the Hearts Supporters' Trust. "How he can now advise other people on this and be helpful to them is beyond me.

"We believed Robinson had broken his ties with the club, which technically he has as it is Mr Romanov who will employ him, but he clearly still has an interest in the club and the supporters are not happy with that.

"I was very surprised to hear about it. Maybe there are other business ventures in Edinburgh that Mr Romanov wants to become involved in and he believes Robinson can help him. But for Hearts, having him involved is not quite a step backwards but it will annoy fans again."

Watson is unperturbed at the prospect of seeing his club prised from Gorgie in order to realise the potential of Romanov's revolution as he recognises the logistical barriers that obstruct Hearts' intentions to expand their home.

But supporters who believed that Robinson had finally walked away from the club for good only less than a fortnight ago are dismayed at the actions of Romanov, whose contradictions are becoming increasingly difficult to fathom.

It was on the crest of an "our home is in Gorgie" wave that Jambos rode when Romanov held his Hearts scarf aloft at Tynecastle upon completion of his takeover in February. Now that could be in jeopardy as the Lithuanian explores options elsewhere.

Having professed his desire for the Lithuanian team in its entirety to infiltrate the Hearts first team, Romanov now claims the side requires a reinvigorating Scottish influence as opposed to more eastern Europeans. And after dispensing with the "uncooperative" John Robertson, he now wants him back as manager one day.

However, maintaining Robinson's involvement is the main crux of supporters' ire. It has been suggested that the move is intended to gain sway with leading officials at Edinburgh City Council, with whom it has been said Robinson enjoys a profitable relationship, for the purpose of acquiring the necessary land for building around the ground.

Watson, though, is unconvinced. "From meetings I've had with various people from the council about Tynecastle, I don't think Robinson has particularly good contacts at the council," he said. "The impression I got is that he is not really well in there. He hadn't explored all the options with the council when considering whether Tynecastle could be redeveloped either.

"The councillors who were very supportive to the Save Our Hearts campaign said that he had not investigated all the options which could have been explored. You will recall he was asked by the Stadium Working Group to put forward Peter McGrail's plans as a proposal because Hearts would back it, and he refused to consider it an option despite being asked to by Lord Macaulay [Working Group chairman] and the full committee.

"That basically went against what he was being told to do because the working party was supposed to have authority and he didn't recognise that authority. That was another black mark against Robinson."

Whatever the reason, any sight of Robinson, below, in or around Tynecastle in the future will doubtless prompt a return to supporters' demonstrations and placards conveying, in particularly unsubtle terms, people's feelings for the Pieman.

Watson summed it up. "Robinson still involved in Hearts' plans, even to a lesser extent, will definitely disappoint fans."

Taken from the Scotsman