JIM MCLEAN
Jim Mclean As Told To Gary Ralston

THE BIGGEST TINKERMAN AT TYNECASTLE IS ROMANOV

CLAUDIO RANIERI jetted into Edinburgh yesterday morning for talks on becoming the new boss of Hearts.

But if I could offer him one word of advice I'd tell him to tread carefully with Vladimir Romanov.

Managers who are out of football may well be desperate for a job - but at the very least I'd urge him to think long and hard if hewas ever to be offered the post.

The same applies to Sir Bobby Robson, who is an absolute gentleman. However, I still can't believe at his age he isn't concentrating on lowering his golf handicap.

Certainly, to even enter discussions with coaches of the calibre of Ranieri and Robson,Romanov is clearly offering lucrative contracts.

However, the biggest asset he could offer any prospective manager is the promise of a free hand in every aspect of running the football squad.

Perhaps Romanov would be more respectful of senior figures such as Ranieri and Robson for all they have achieved - but I have my doubts.

In case anyone is wondering, I'm standing squarely behind Burley after his departure from Tynecastle.

Hearts have lost one of the best young managers in British football and the Scottish game is now without an influential coaching figure who was a breath of fresh air to the SPL.

Look,I'm a joiner to trade and still a bloody good one to boot - even if my son believes I served my apprenticeship fitting out Noah's Ark.

But if a joiner came to my house to fix a door I wouldn't dare tell him how to do the job, nor tell a bricklayer how to lay bricks or a lawyer how to proceed with a legal case. Unfortunately, in the case of the Hearts majority shareholder, I can't be sure he wasn't using some influence on the football side, which is a no-no for managers who must be allowed to stand or fall by their own decisions.

Let me state, Romanov has been responsible for bringing some really good players to Tynecastle this season.

I have been really impressed by the strength, height, mobility and fitness levels of the Hearts team this season but more than that I've been drawn by their quality - there are few dumplings in the squad.

However, a football team is like a jigsaw and only a managerknows how to fit it all together and that what works oneweekwon't necessarily work the next I'm sad George has departed the scene but his CV has only been enhancedby his four months at Hearts andhe will find a new job soon, unfortunately south of the border.

I'm especially disappointed for the magnificent Tynecastle support and for their sake I hope an appointment of real quality is made soon.

In case anyone thinks I'm speaking with forked tongue as someone who worked as both a manager and chairman, let me set the record straight.

Control of football affairs was something I demanded as a manager at Dundee United, something I was given and something I gave when I moved to become chairman.

I worked with managers such as Ivan Golac, my brother Tommy, Paul Sturrock, Billy Kirkwood and Alex Smith and they were given the power to do the job their way.

If I was asked for playing advice, I gave it but no chairman or owner should ever give his opinion on football affairs to his manager without first being approached.

It's vital a chairman builds the business side of a club and gives his manager the support he needs, not only financially but also to make his own decisions.

Manager will make mistakes - I made many myself - but they must be given the time and space to learn from their errors.

I was criticised for interfering when I was chairman at Tannadice but that was not true and I never wanted a 'yes man' in charge of the team.

On many occasions, I didn't always agree with what I saw on the park but I respected the managers had to do it their own way.

As a manager,Iwas allowed to make decisions relative to what happened on the pitch and,having wanted and needed that control,I couldn't help but believe anyone who followed me deserved the same.

No matter what has been said or written about me, I have a clear conscience on the backing I gave to my managers, even if it was sometimes against my better judgment.

It's vital Romanov now gets the right man in because Hearts' lead at the top of the table will not last unless he appoints someone with real quality and lets him get on with the job.

Players will not win the league on their own but whoever comes in has a hard act to follow in George.

No manager worth his salt in football ever succeeded by being a 'yes man' - they achieved their greatness through having a strong belief in their own opinions.

It's something Mr Romanov should bear in mind as he continues his search for the new Hearts boss.

Taken from the Daily Record