Why Burley just had to go

ROB ROBERTSON October 24 2005

HEARTS parted company with George Burley because they feared he was set to join Aston Villa and would eventually take top players such as Craig Gordon and Paul Hartley with him.

The Herald understands that the club were deeply concerned that the English Premiership club were waiting in the wings to offer the sought-after manager a contract.

It is believed the Midlands club were in the process of drawing up a hit list of possible managers on the assumption that their manager, David O'Leary, was a prime candidate for the Republic of Ireland job.

The Tynecastle outfit had heard such suggestions and did not want to run the risk of losing their manager as they did with Craig Levein, who left for Leicester City before returning to sign first-team regulars Mark de Vries, Alan Maybury and Patrick Kisnorbo for his new club.

The Herald understands Hearts were worried the team, unbeaten and top of the Bank of Scotland PremierLeague, would be dismantled in the January transfer window.

Sources close to Burley emphatically and angrily deny he has been in contact with Villa or any other club and say his sole aim was concentrating on keeping Hearts at the top of the table.

The possibility of Burley leaving and then taking players away from Tynecastle was one of the undisclosed reasons for the fall-out between him and Vladimir Romanov, the club's biggest shareholder.

The other reason for the split were the regular clashes between Romanov and Burley over which players should be signed.

A case in point was Samuel Camazzola, who came from Brazilian side Juventude on loan at the end of August on the recommendation of Romanov. Burley had not set eyes on him.

Burley found it difficult to work with the Lithuanian, who continually meddled in team affairs, and the coach became increasingly frustrated at losing his managerial independence.

The Hearts board cited "irreconcilable differences" as the official reason for the parting of the ways and made it clear neither they nor Burley would be making further comment although Phil Anderton, chief executive, said last night: "I appreciate the desire of some fans to know exact details of why George left the club. However, I would ask the fans to respect that George Burley has a right to confidentiality in this matter and we fully intend to honour that agreement."

Anderton added: "I can confirm that, since Saturday afternoon, I have concentrated my efforts on targeting a top-class manager for the club.

"I have already received a number of enquiries from interested parties but we will not rush into a quick appointment.

"There is no doubt that the new manager will be joining a club that is in much better condition on and off the field than it was a few months ago."

The confidentiality agreement forms part of the compensation package with Burley and it was cited by George Foulkes, the Hearts chairman, who refused to comment on the departing manager.

However, Foulkes denied he was a lap-dog for Romanov, an accusation thrown at him by some supporters.

"I can assure supporters that in this decision, as in all others since I became chairman, I have had the long-term interests of the club at heart," said Foulkes.

Already speculation is growing that a big-name manager is being lined up to replace Burley with Sir Bobby Robson the favourite with bookmakers and some pundits. Outsiders include Valdas Ivanauskas, the former coach of FBK Kaunas, the club Romanov's bank sponsors.

The Herald understands that Romanov flew out of Edinburgh early yesterday morning and has left the task of compiling a shortlist with Anderton. Once that is drawn up, it will be put to the Hearts board, who will recommend their chosen candidate to Romanov.

Robson, who turned down the Hearts job in the summer, said at the weekend: "I didn't take the Hearts job before for personal reasons but my circumstances are different now. It's an attractive job and I left Mr Romanov on good terms." Robson is due in Edinburgh later this week for the funeral of his former Fulham and England team-mate, Johnny Haynes.

There has been a mixed reaction from supporters following Burley's departure with former Hearts player Alan

Preston and Burley's former Ipswich team-mate, Alan Brazil, highly critical of the decision. Brazil described Romanov as "off his head" for allowing Burley to leave.

Preston said he was appalled at the way Burley had been treated. "They have lost the best manager they have had in a long time," said the former Hearts full-back. "For Hearts to get rid of him when they had gone 10 games unbeaten is terrible. Ridiculous."

However, Leslie Deans, a former Hearts chairman, has backed Romanov. "Of course the next managerial appointment is highly crucial," said Deans. "I have had dealings with Vladimir Romanov when he purchased 1.5 million shares from me a year ago and he was hard but fair.

"I would also say he is very clearly a winner and there are clubs across the country who would give their eye-teeth for someone like Romanov. Everybody at Tynecastle must now rally behind the club and support Romanov, the team and the interim management team.

"There are plenty of people who would take great pleasure in seeing Hearts collapse so it is important all Hearts people stick together with maximum backing for the team, because the Hearts revolution is not stopping here."

Taken from the Herald