Thompson has no regrets over rejecting Romanov's advances

ALAN PATTULLO

NO-ONE wishes to have their influence on the world framed by a miscalculation made without the benefit of hindsight.

Derek Rowe of Decca records knows that feeling, since he is routinely referred to as the man who turned down the Beatles.

And in football, Ayr United have cause to gnash their teeth at the sight of Rangers' progress since David Murray's initial plan was to take over at Somerset Park, an intention met with fierce resistance in the still struggling club's boardroom.

And so we come to Dundee United, the club whose return to European action in southern Finland on Thursday night might have been geographically convenient for Vladimir Romanov, the Lithuanian-based businessman who pursued an interest in both Dundee clubs before shifting his ambitions in the direction of Hearts.

Eddie Thompson, the United owner, met with the Hearts major shareholder on numerous occasions prior to his involvement at Tynecastle.

"I've met Mr Romanov a number of times and so far it looks as though he is doing what's required for Hearts and their fans," Thompson said yesterday. "No-one can knock that in any way whatsoever. We're all different in our own way. Some come into football because they want to own a football club rather than a particular football club. Others come in because they want to prove a point. I came in because I was emotionally involved with the club. There was only one club for me."

Tomorrow afternoon at Tannadice Thompson will be given a first-hand view of what his club might have had, with Hearts, the country's form team, able to field seven new signings in their bid to hold onto pole position in the league.

But Thompson isn't sore, and on the back of an emotional first trip abroad as United chairman no-one could expect this passionate fan of the club to retain any regrets about dismissing Romanov's overtures.

United are run by a man who has the club's interests 100 per cent at heart. However grandiose the designs in Gorgie, be assured there were few Arabs crying over spilt Pear Cider in Finland this week.

In any case, Romanov's stated intentions were more understated than what has since unfolded at Hearts.

"Mr Romanov was not wanting to take the club off my hands but he was wanting to buy a share in the club," confirmed Thompson. "His idea at that time was to bring in some players and sell them on. But he has gone a lot further at Hearts and there is no doubt the players he is bringing in look exceptional."

Thompson wasn't prepared to give up on his dream of re-building United so soon after the titanic effort to gain control had finally come to fruition in 2002. "When I first came in there were a lot of battles and people said hell would freeze over before I got in," continued Thompson. "There were a lot of people in the press and amongst the fans sceptical of me but I think we've won them over. People know I'm here to improve Dundee United although we haven't quite achieved anything yet.

"I sold my business exactly a year ago and got one or two pounds for that. That made quite a difference as it meant I didn't have to stretch myself as, knowing me, I would have stretched myself right to the limit and we've seen that happen in football recently. The club is a family thing now as my son Stephen is in the club and I'd like to think my family will continue with the club whatever happens to myself."

Thompson is continuing his treatment for prostate cancer but wasn't prepared to dispense with one pre-match routine on Thursday against MyPa 47.

"I had a cigarette before the game, I always do, and the only place I could go was to the supporters' tent," he explained. "They had all had a couple of beers but they hugged me and I really appreciated that."

It's not often that the principal backers of two teams can count on almost universal adoration spilling down from the stands, but in their successful wooing of players, Romanov and Thompson - who financed a three-year deal for David Fernandez yesterday - have struck where fans are most vulnerable.

Hearts yesterday topped up the feel-good vibes at Tynecastle when midfielder Paul Hartley was invited to speak about his reasons for signing a new three-year contract after being almost constantly linked with Celtic.

"You can see the players the manager [George Burley] is bringing in," said Hartley. "They are quality players. Hopefully we are trying to build something here. I could have just sat out the last year [of my contract] and took my chance in the summer and gone somewhere else.

"That might have been my intention before the new manager came in but as soon as I saw his plans, and the way he wanted to play football, that changed my mind. I am here for the next three years at least."

The boyhood Celtic fan yesterday also drew a line through a previous ambition to move Parkhead. "The chance has passed me," he said. "I am not sitting here waiting on Celtic. I wanted to do what was best for myself and my family and I think I have done that."

Taken from the Scotsman