HEARTS GO FOR CLAUDIO

CLAUDIO RANIERI arrived in Edinburgh yesterday to pavethewayforparttwoof the Romanov Revolution at Tynecastle.

The former Chelsea manager jetted in for talks with Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov and is ready to join the Lithuanian's crusade to end the Old Firm's domination of Scottish football.

League leaders Hearts insisted they would attract a world-class manager to Tynecastle and look like delivering on their promise as Ranieri spent most of the day in discussions with Tynecastle's Lithuanian overlord.The Italian is scheduled to remain in the country until Sunday but will cancel his plans to return to Italy if he hears from Romanov.

Ranieri, 54, was sacked by Russian tycoon Roman Abramovich in May 2004 after failing to deliver the Premiership to Stamford Bridge despite spending more than £120million on new signings.

But the Italian has told friends he is not afraid of dealing with another multi-millionaire Eastern European owner - providing Romanov puts his cards on the table during negotiations which began in London on Wednesday and continued yesterday in an Edinburgh hotel.

Burley was sacked for railing against Romanov's continual interference in the signing of players and for voicing his opinions on team selection.

But Ranieri, known as The Tinkerman for his controversial player rotation policy at Stamford Bridge, believes he can live with that situation as long as Romanov is honest with him.

A source close to the ex-Chelsea, Valencia and Fiorentina manager said: "Claudio has been through the experience of working with Abramovich and some people might think that would have put him off this job but that isn't the case at all.

"All he wants is openness from Hearts. If he knows he will be working for a man who likes to be hands-on in his approach he can live with that.

"What he wouldn't want is to be told one thing then to get in there and find the situation is different.

"But he is delighted to be talking to Hearts and hopes something can come of this."

Ranieri did not apply for the job and was approached by Hearts after being "sourced" in London by former Jambos player turned agent, George Wright Hurdle He is the man who first made contact with Burley in the summer and has been used to find the best available replacement for the sacked Scot.

Ranieri is Hearts' first choice for the vacant position and cleared the first hurdle on Wednesday by convincing chief executive Phil Anderton he is the right man for the job.

Anderton recommended a meeting with Romanov yesterday and the Italian flew into Edinburgh just before 11am. He was met by Anderton's PA Irene McPhee and driven to a city centre hotel where talks with Romanov were held.

Last night a Hearts spokesman said: "We can confirm the club have had talks with various applicants today, including both Ranieri and Robson.

"That is in line with the kind of pedigree we are looking for and we are encouraged by discussions so far."

Bookies favourite Robson Robson declined to discuss the Tynecastle position yesterday but it is understood the 72-year-old is still in the frame should the move for Ranieri collapse.

Hearts chairman George Foulkes said: "We've had well over 20 expressions of interest from top-quality managers, household names with great experience, which confirms this is a plum job.

"We're sounding out people, we're having informal discussions with people and it will take some time to do that.

"Some of them are in other parts of the United Kingdom and some are overseas.

"John McGlynn is working well as an acting manager and will be in charge against Hibs

Taken from the Daily Record