Foulkes slams Romanov

In a frank and scathing interview with Sky Sports News, Hearts chairman George Foulkes has lifted the lid on Vladimir Romanov's regime at Tynecastle, explaining why he felt it necessary to quit on Monday night after the sacking of chief executive Phil Anderton.

The Jambos have seen their world fall apart in recent weeks after their seemingly unstoppable side saw manager George Burley depart before the team lost their first game of the season to arch rivals Hibernian.

More drama followed on Monday as Foulkes quit after Romanov moved to sack Anderton, and the Lithuanian businessman rapidly installed his son in both vacant positions.

The Romanov era has been characterised by secrecy, with confidentially agreements leaving Hearts fans in the dark, but Foulkes has now broken his silence in a dramatic attack on the club's hierarchy.

Claiming he was forced into the sacking of Burley, previously described as a departure due to mutual consent, Foulkes attacked Romanov's rule as 'ruthless' and leaving the Edinburgh club in 'a terrible dilemma'.

Foulkes also insisted his decision to quit was a direct result of Romanov's desire to sack Anderton.

"Well I'm absolutely devastated at the way in which some of my colleagues on the board took a decision against my recommendation, against my advice, and , I'm led to believe, against the advice of their professional advisors to sack Phil Anderton as chief executive," Foulkes told Sky Sports News.

"I just couldn't stay there any more, I just couldn't be part of that. I was unhappy last week at the sacking of George Burley but in the end we got hijacked into it, bounced into it, and we had to go along with it and I had the terrible experience of having to make that statement.

"And then this week we get another situation where all weekend I've had the Lithuanian trying to twist my arm, first of all to soft soak me and then to brow beat me into going along with the sacking of Phil Anderton and I just wouldn't do it.

"I tried to persuade them it wasn't in the best interests of the club, wasn't in the interests commercially or in any way but I failed to do it and they pressed ahead with it.

"I don't know why but I just know I don't want to be part of that, I find the ruthlessness just totally unacceptable."

Continuing to criticise Romanov, Foulkes declared he was disillusioned with the Lithuanian businessman's plans for the club, after welcoming him as a saviour when he saved Tynecastle.

"I'm in a dilemma because I brought him in after the previous administration tried to demolish Tynecastle and he seemed like a saviour and I've supported him month after month but I must say I'm totally disillusioned now.

"I think he's reneged on promises recently, he's let us down and I'm totally disillusioned with the way he's doing it.

"I think its a kind of ruthlessness which I don't find acceptable, but I'm in this awful dilemma.

"I'm a Hearts supporter, I'm a Jambo, I want to see us win, I want to see us up there and I don't want to do anything that will undermine the future of Hearts and that's why I think every fan is in that dilemma.

"They wont be happy at the sacking of Phil Anderton, just like they weren't happy at the sacking of George Burley, but they want the team to do well, its a terrible dilemma, and Vladimir Romanov has put us in that dilemma. I just hope he finds a way out of it."

It is understood that Anderton was sacked after discussions concerning the club's pay structure in relation to the possible appointment of Claudio Ranieri as manager.


Taken From SKYSPORTS