Bombshell as Burley quits Hearts<

Resurgent heart of Midlothian were convulsed yesterday as George Burley left the Tynecastle club only hours before the shock SPL leaders met Dunfermline Athletic in their sixth successive sellout fixture at home this season.

The 49-year-old Burley, who was in charge for a mere 113 days, had found himself in an uneasy relationship with Vladimir Romanov, the Lithuanian banker and biggest single shareholder, who launched a bid for a complete takeover on Friday.

In a statement, the club said Burley's departure had been by mutual consent and cited "irreconcilable differences". When Burley left Derby County he complained his position had become "untenable" and that he felt let down by the board.

Romanov made it clear from the start at Hearts that he would identify and import players and that "the manager will train them". When Brazilian midfielder Samuel Camazzola arrived on a year-long loan deal Burley admitted that he had neither watched the player in the flesh nor on video.

Shortly before the Hearts players assembled for lunch Romanov summoned John McGlynn, the first-team coach, and instructed him to take charge of the team. "I was asked to go to a meeting at 11 o'clock and I was told that the directors had mutually agreed with George to part company," McGlynn said.

"I didn't have a chance to speak to George because we had to get the players in for their lunch. It was a complete surprise to me because we didn't have any expectation of any of this. Mr Romanov was at our pre-match meal and he addressed the players but he didn't go into any detail about what had happened.

"We have a game against Kilmarnock on Wednesday night and I would envisage being in charge of the team then, unless somebody tells me something to the contrary.

"The players have a great feeling for the manager and they showed that by writing 'For The Gaffer' on their t-shirts," McGlynn said.

The fact that Burley, whose eight-year tenure at Ipswich Town saw the Portman Road side into the Premiership and UEFA Cup, had not bought a home in Edinburgh and was living in a city hotel, fuelled speculation that he had never fully gained the Lithuanian's approval.

Burley, though, appeared to be enthusiastic about Romanov's bid - announced on Friday - to extend his stake in the club to a 90 per cent shareholding.

"One of the reasons I came to Hearts was Mr Romanov after I went to speak to him in Lithuania," he said. "We are all looking forward."

Burley's part came to a shuddering end yesterday. He telephoned some, but not all, of the Hearts players during the morning to tell them of the extraordinary turn of events. When Romanov took his place in the directors' box the former Red Army submariner raised two arms with fists clenched. Alongside him the Hearts chairman, George Foulkes, mopped his brow in jest but his smile faded when an agitated supporter shouted: "Get down on that pitch and tell us what's happening!"

Goals from Rudi Skacel and Michael Pospisil mollified at least a section of the Hearts support, who sang their customary song in praise of Romanov midway through the second half. Their turbulent afternoon was extended, though, when the Hearts captain, Steven Pressley, was ordered off for an injury-time foul on Darren Young.

If the epicentre of the quake was located in the west end of Edinburgh, it rattled one edifice 45 miles away in Glasgow. Conspiracy theorists in both cities placed bets that Motherwell would beat Rangers at Ibrox, thus clearing the way for Burley to replace Alex McLeish as manager of the defending champions, who had failed to score in four of their last five games.

Andy Cameron, the comedian who leads the Rangers crowd singing before each home match, strode into the centre circle and made an emotional announcement. "I am totally sick of the lack of respect this club gets," he thundered. "Only an hour ago a manager left his club and we hear people talking about him taking over here. We have a manager who has won seven trophies and I want you to get behind him now."

Rangers responded with a goal in 26 seconds from Chris Burke and eventually with a second by Peter Lovenkrands late in the proceedings to ease their immediate worries.

It is a measure of the Romanov revolution, though, that even in turmoil Hearts remain nine points ahead of Rangers and six in front of Celtic, who travel to Kilmarnock this afternoon.

Taken from telegraph.co.uk