Vlad's pledge

PAUL KIDDIE

HEARTS owner Vladimir Romanov today assured boss George Burley that he has no intention of dabbling in team affairs at Tynecastle. The Lithuanian millionaire was instrumental in bringing former Porto star Edgaras Jankauskas to Gorgie on loan from Kaunas in the summer and is bankrolling his hefty wage packet, believed to be in the region of £10,000 a week.

Romanov's scouting network also recently unearthed Greece's Euro 2004 winner Takis Fyssas while he recruited Saulius Mikoliunas and David Cesnauskis last season.

He has used his contacts in Eastern Europe to recommend a number of other players to his manager amid the ongoing rebuilding of the first-team squad but the club's majority shareholder has stressed that's as far as his involvement with the team goes.

Burely has said he would walk away from the club if he found his authority diluted by the Baltic banker but a spokesman for Romanov said that scenario would not transpire.

"George Burley is the manager and picks the team," he said. "That's the way it is and always will be. Mr Romanov has been delighted with the job which George has done in such a short space of time and is looking forward to Hearts having a successful season. He was delighted to be top of the league after three games but appreciates there is a lot of work still to be done."

He added: "He has been impressed immensely by George Burley and has no doubt in his mind that he is right man for the job.

"Like George, Mr Romanov has good contacts throughout Europe and he will assist in placing players in front of the manager. But it will George Burley and only George Burley who will decide who signs and who plays for the team.

"Mr Romanov has always made it clear that George picks the team. Their roles are clearly defined and, judging by the significant strides which the club is making, it's a situation which has been working well."

Romanov's pledge to continue with his "hands-off" approach is good news for Burley, who made it clear he would not tolerate any outside influence on team selection.

"I pick the team. The day I don't pick the team will be the day I'm not here," he said.

"Mr Romanov is obviously involved in the players we can bring to Hearts and so far it has worked very well."

Burley, who steered the Jambos to three successive victories to launch his first SPL campaign in sensational style, has signed seven players since his arrival in the hot seat - and he's targeted another two before the transfer window slams shut at the end of this month.

He was on a spying mission in Scandinavia in midweek to see the Czech Republic take on Sweden and is keen to make more moves to supplement his squad within the next fortnight.

"There is a long way to go but we have done phenomenally well so far," he said.

"Ideally, we need two players before the window closes.

I watched two international under-21 games and the Czech Republic against Sweden this week.

"There were a lot of quality players on show and there's no doubt we still need to strengthen if we are to be serious about getting back into Europe. We have been aware of the Czech market, and also Poland, for a couple of seasons now and it's a place where I think you can still get bargains.

"I know of a few I would like to bring on board but at the moment nothing is happening."

Taken from the Scotsman