EXCLUSIVE: VLAD AND RUDI IN BURLEY T-SHIRT BUST-UP

RAGING Vladimir Romanov burst into the Hearts dressing room on Saturday to lambaste Rudi Skacel for wearing a T-shirt in support of George Burley.

Romanov was left seething after top scorer Skacel and Scotland star Paul Hartley stripped off to reveal slogans backing the manager who had been bulleted just hours earlier.

And he angrily confronted Skacel in front of stunned team-mates as they celebrated the 2-0 victory over Dunfermline which kept the managerless Jambos at the top of the SPL.

vladimir romanov

FURY: Romanov

Romanov unloaded on Skacel and although the conversation was not held in English, the rest of the team were gobsmacked by the row.

Record Sport under-stands Skacel was told in no uncertain terms that Romanov will not tolerate dissent in the ranks and that he expects complete loyalty.

Skacel was so shaken by Romanov's blast that he later confided in team-mates that he fears he may even lose his first-team place as a result.

Yesterday, the normally bright and breezy Skacel was unusually reluctant to discuss anything that had gone on over the weekend.

He said:"I'm very sorry,but I'm not answering any questions about the trainer being sacked."

Asked if he was upset over Burley's departure, Skacel replied: "I'm sorry, I don't want to comment.'

Meanwhile, Record Sport can also reveal that, despite Romanov's dressing-room rantings, the Hearts squad will resist any attempt he might make to step into Burley's position.

Threatened Romanov has already threatened, through the pages of this paper, to take over control of the team if he cannot find a Scottish replacement for Burley.

But such a move will not be tolerated by the players who are already reeling from the split that has seen them lose the manager who had guided them to the top.

One player, who wished not to be named, told us: "All the players had great respect for George and we are staggered that he is no longer in charge.

"We knew there were problems between him and Romanov and we guessed that eventually it was going to explode.

"As players we have to accept that these things happen and we must go about our jobs professionally.

"But if Romanov turns up wearing a tracksuit with his initials on the chest then there will be serious problems. That's a line that you simply do not cross and the players would find it unacceptable."

Last night Romanov repeated his vow to Hearts fans that the title would still be theirs.

In a club statement he said: "I would like to place on record my thanks to George Burley for his input over the past four months.

"However, we will not be derailed from our ambition to deliver a club which is regularly competing at the highest levels of football in Scotland and Europe."

Skacel was so shaken by Romanov's blast that he later confided in team-mates that he fears he may even lose his first-team place as a result.

Yesterday, the normally bright and breezy Skacel was unusually reluctant to discuss anything that had gone on over the weekend.

He said:"I'm very sorry,but I'm not answering any questions about the trainer being sacked."

Asked if he was upset over Burley's departure, Skacel replied: "I'm sorry, I don't want to comment.'

Meanwhile, Record Sport can also reveal that, despite Romanov's dressing-room rantings, the Hearts squad will resist any attempt he might make to step into Burley's position.

Threatened Romanov has already threatened, through the pages of this paper, to take over control of the team if he cannot find a Scottish replacement for Burley.

But such a move will not be tolerated by the players who are already reeling from the split that has seen them lose the manager who had guided them to the top.

One player, who wished not to be named, told us: "All the players had great respect for George and we are staggered that he is no longer in charge.

"We knew there were problems between him and Romanov and we guessed that eventually it was going to explode.

"As players we have to accept that these things happen and we must go about our jobs professionally.

"But if Romanov turns up wearing a tracksuit with his initials on the chest then there will be serious problems. That's a line that you simply do not cross and the players would find it unacceptable."

Last night Romanov repeated his vow to Hearts fans that the title would still be theirs.

In a club statement he said: "I would like to place on record my thanks to George Burley for his input over the past four months.

"However, we will not be derailed from our ambition to deliver a club which is regularly competing at the highest levels of football in Scotland and Europe."

Taken from the Daily Record