Hearts reel as Romanov installs son as chairman

Heart of Midlothian fans, still reeling from the dismissal of George Burley - the manager who guided the team to their best start in more than a century and who was sacked 10 days ago - were left stunned yesterday as the chairman, George Foulkes, and the chief executive, Phil Anderton, were ejected from their positions by the majority shareholder, Vladimir Romanov.
The news from Tynecastle was delivered in a Stock Exchange announcement and Romanov, not content to let the matter rest, issued a statement taking a swipe at the departing pair.

"They have had one year and not been able to do the things I have wanted to do with Hearts. They have had the funds and all my energy but I have not had the response I have wanted," said Romanov, whose son Roman - who acts as translator for his father - was installed as chairman and acting chief executive "pending a further appointment".

The drama began at 1pm yesterday when the Hearts directors met in the Tynecastle boardroom for what Anderton and Foulkes expected to be a routine meeting to discuss the search for a new manager, with Sir Bobby Robson high on the list of candidates. However, Romanov, who acquired a majority shareholding 10 days ago, had other ideas and Anderton discovered swiftly that he no longer held his position.

Lord Foulkes was next. The official statement said: "George Foulkes has resigned as a director, also with immediate effect." This, however, was not entirely the case. Foulkes, who was a non-executive chairman, was offered a token consolation post as a non-executive director, which was refused by the privy councillor and former junior minister at the department for international development.

Only the day before Anderton had been asked whether Romanov was "a bombastic fantasist or Scotland's answer to Roman Abramovich". Anderton, a former chief executive of the Scottish Rugby Union, replied: "He came at a time when the club was about to knock the stadium down and turn it into flats and play at a soulless rugby ground.

"Now clearly he's come from a different background, different environment and people will perhaps be surprised at some of things he does."

None more so, perhaps, than Anderton himself. Foulkes, too, had paid fulsome tribute when Romanov launched his bid for control of the club on Oct 21. "Mr Romanov has already done a huge amount for the club - how much more can he do as owner?"

Hearts fans were last night divided. Some phoned radio stations urging a boycott while others demanded that Romanov explain his actions.

What is clear, though, is that Romanov has imposed his own October revolution and installed a regal dynasty in the heart of unsuspecting Edinburgh.

Taken from telegraph.co.uk