BURLEY WELCOMES ROMANOV BID

Hearts manager George Burley has welcomed Vladimir Romanov's bid to take full control of the Edinburgh club but insists the Jambos will still be keeping a tight grip on the purse strings.

The Lithuanian businessman became the largest shareholder in the club in February with 29.9%, but has now taken his stake to approximately 55% after offering 35p a share to all of the club's shareholders.

Romanov's aim is to have at least 75% of the shares which will effectively make him the owner.

But his preference is to have at least 90% of the club under his jurisdiction by the end of the year.

The news was welcomed by almost all of the Hearts community, who see the Lithuanian's plan as the next step towards stabilising the Tynecastle club.

Chairman George Foulkes claimed the move represented a "great day for Hearts", but Burley warns that the Edinburgh club will not be held to ransom in future negotiations for new players.

He said: "It's great news. One of the reasons I came to Hearts was after going to Lithuania to speak to Mr Romanov.

"We are all looking to push forward again with the financial security.

"It is unbelievable how we have progressed in the last few months on and off the field.

"So, hopefully, we can keep progressing and keep developing and getting stronger and stronger.

"It is all about trying to improve your club, but it is not all about spending the most money - it is about trying to get the right players in who will improve your team.

"Of course, if there is finance available to bring better quality in, that can only help.

"But Mr Romanov is not going to throw money away for players he does not think are going to improve the squad.

"We have not brought players in and paid silly money for them.

"The players we have brought in have been tremendous, they have been great assets and have improved the squad.

"It could be the case that prices for players will go up but, at the end of the day, you don't have to pay it.

"We have only spent money on two players and won't be throwing money away.

"It is about being shrewd and we have been very shrewd about the players we have brought in."

Meanwhile, Hearts striker Michal Pospisil is confident the team can fulfil his aspirations of playing in the Champions League.

The Jambos currently hold a three-point lead on second-placed Celtic in the race for the title.

But the Edinburgh side can extend their unbeaten run to 11 SPL matches when Dunfermline arrive at Tynecastle.

Now, after just missing out on the lucrative group stages with Slavia Prague in the 2002-3 season, the 26-year-old is determined to sample life among the European elite again.

Pospisil said: "Why can't we win the league? Rangers are in the Champions League and we beat them and we have also drawn with Celtic.

"I hope we can play in the Champions League next season - that is my dream.

"I played in the qualifiers before for Slavia Prague against Racing Ghent.

"But we went out on away goals after losing 2-0 in Belgium and winning 4-2 at home. It was very disappointing."

Taken from sportinglife.com