Burley not cowed by Romanov

THE issue of managerial autonomy reared its head at Tynecastle yesterday as George Burley sought to defuse remarks made in Lithuania by Vladimir Romanov who suggested it was he and not the Hearts manager who decided on which players the club should sign.

Speaking after the capture of Czech striker Roman Bednar on a one-year loan, Burley was adamant his relationship with Romanov was a good one. The manager denied Lithuanian striker Edgar Jankauskas had been foisted upon the club but said it was natural that Romanov, the club's major shareholder, should seek value for money on his investment.

Asked if he feared Romanov bringing in players regardless of the manager's views, Burley said: "No, that's not the case. I have a very good relationship with Vladimir. I speak to him often on the phone and we talk about players. We're working together.

"He says he would never force me to play a player. We talk about players and find out about them. I'm aware of that market over there [in Lithuania]. Jankauskas was a player I knew well, being at Porto, and we had him over to train."

Romanov has claimed the credit for identifying Jankauskas but says Burley approved of his selection. Given the player was a Champions League winner with Porto last year and has over 40 caps for his country, it is no surprise that Burley jumped at the chance to bring him to Tynecastle. Whether he will be so enthusiastic about some of Romanov's other recommendations remains to be seen. Nevertheless, the manager seems happy so far that Romanov's largesse has allowed him to sign Jankauskas, Bednar and fellow Czech Rudi Skacel. All three have joined the Edinburgh club on season-long loan deals.

"It's a good working relationship," said Burley. "It's a little bit different from what I'm used to but there's no reason why it shouldn't work well. I'll recommend players and at times he'll recommend players for me to look at and we'll come together and strengthen the squad.

"I think the players [we've signed] so far have showed that it works. I was aware of Rudi for some time and it was the same with Roman. I was aware of him through a contact in the Czech Republic. And Edgar is a player I knew all about because he's probably the best player in Lithuania."

Burley added: "You've got to work together. Romanov is paying the money out of his pocket so he has to be sure of his investment. But at the end of the day Vladimir and I both want Hearts to be successful and if we're able to bring in these sorts of players I think we've got a chance."

Burley is likely to pair Jankauskas and Bednar in attack against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on Saturday as he seeks to make a winning start to the new SPL campaign. Both are around 6ft 3in but Burley is impressed in particular by Bednar's mobility.

"He's a young player with great potential. He played [as a trialist] in the friendly against Middlesbrough and showed great awareness and mobility. He's got a lovely touch as well as a physical presence. He's well known in his own country and won the 'best young talent' award.

"I think they [Czech players] are used to the British style, it's a high-tempo game in the Czech Republic. It's not slow like it is in Spain and Germany, and Czech Republic lads are physically good athletes."

Bednar, 22, has one cap for the Czech Under-21 side and has been brought to Hearts on loan from FBK Kaunas. Romanov's Lithuanian club signed him from the Czech side Mlada Boleslav in a deal that allows Hearts to enjoys the benefits of the player without harbouring much of the cost.

Although he can't speak English, Burley is confident Bednar will settle in Edinburgh, doubtless aided by the fact he has compatriot Skacel as a team-mate. They are likely to be joined at Tynecastle by a third Czech, Michal Pospisal. The Slovan Liberec striker was due to undergo a medical in Kaunus this week before travelling to Scotland.

"It is not completely finished," Burley said last night, "but we're fairly sure the boy will be travelling over tomorrow to complete the deal."

Meanwhile, Hearts have been fined £25,000 by the Scottish Premier League for playing a player who was not registered.

Striker Graham Weir featured for the Tynecastle club against Celtic at the end of last season after his contract had expired. Phil Anderton, the Hearts chief executive, said: "We hold our hands up and accept the fine because it was an administrative blunder."

Taken from the Scotsman