Romanov eyes fresh horizons

Vladimir Romanov's ambition for Heart of Midlothian evidently knows few bounds. When the Lithuanian became the biggest single shareholder last February, he pledged that he would transform the debt-ridden club into a side capable of challenging the Old Firm's domination of the Scottish game.

Today the Edinburgh team sit proudly at the top of the Scottish Premier League and will meet Dunfermline Athletic in front of a sixth successive full house at Tynecastle.

Yesterday Romanov moved to effect a more complete takeover with a bid which already guarantees him 55 per cent of the stock, with a likelihood of at least 75 per cent. In fact, he has targeted 90 per cent of the shares, which would allow him to de-list Hearts from the Stock Exchange to give himself greater scope for manoeuvre within the club. By way of a bonus, Romanov stated that Hearts should aim to become Champions League winners.

It is always difficult to know exactly what to make of Romanov, the former Red Navy submariner-turned-banker who became the Hearts fans' overnight hero when he bought out the deeply unpopular former chief executive and major shareholder, Chris Robinson, and prevented the sale of the club's much-loved Tynecastle stadium.

On the one hand, he has a penchant for statements which play to the gallery, plus a cute ability to avoid being pinned down on the detail of how he can dispense with a debt of £20 million, make a profit and build a side capable of sustaining a challenge in Scotland, never mind making a dent in European competition.

On the other, the cost of what has been achieved so far, plus the acquisition of more shares, is heading for £30 million, whether borne by Romanov or his companies. Hearts are top of the table, ahead of Celtic and Rangers, just as he promised, and an expansion of Tynecastle is on the drawing board - the alternatives are a 38,000-seat arena, expanded on to adjacent land, or a more modest reconstruction of the ageing main stand to attain a 25,000-seat stadium.

Draped in the now familiar maroon scarf, Romanov gave notice - via an interpreter - of his latest vision for a club who last won a Scottish championship in 1960. "Ultimately, we are keen to fulfil the potential of Hearts and that means striving to become European champions," he declared.

"In my view, clubs from any country have the potential to win the Champions League. Who are the European champions? Greece. Success can be achieved through honesty - fundamental integrity and honesty on the pitch."

When it was suggested that Uefa might disapprove of his interests in other clubs, notably Lithuanian side Kaunas, he retorted that his investment was in the form of sponsorship, like that of Roman Abramovich with CSKA Moscow, and that the governors of the European game should drive out agents - "those puppeteers who enslave both clubs and players".

In the meantime, George Burley, the Hearts manager, who makes no comment on such matters - other than to point out that his squad are fully stretched at the best of times - will restore Craig Gordon as goalkeeper against Dunfermline after suspension.

Taken from telegraph.co.uk