Romanovs may have to replace more than just their manager

MARTIN GREIG November 03 2005

Of the many inponderables surrounding Hearts at the moment, there is one which is arguably more important than them all. How will the players respond to the off-field turmoil? Last weekend's derby defeat to Hibs owed as much to the Easter Road side's good performance than to any implosion on Hearts' behalf.

With another week of machinations behind them, however, including the departure of chief executive Phil Anderton and chairman George Foulkes, Saturday's clash with Dundee United will provide more sufficient evidence of the impact on the players.

The correllation between off-field turmoil and on-field performance is often played down, but Tynecastle can hardly be a confidence-inspring environment just now. Football players may not get too emotional over the departure of a chairman or chief executive, but it is their managerless status which is the biggest worry just now.

It should not be forgotten that much of Hearts' current on-field renaissance pivoted around the presence of George Burley. Much has been made so far this season of the contribution of the Scottish spine, but the current situation throws up more questions than answers where they are concerned.

It is only a few months since Andy Webster sat out the club's pre-season tour to Ireland amid speculation that a move to Rangers was imminent. He currently has 20 months on his contract, but has yet to sign an extension. Mick McCarthy, the Sunderland manager, was believed to be assessing Webster at Tynecastle two weeks ago and the defender is likely to have no shortage of suitors if he decided to move.

Craig Gordon is not short of suitors either. Serie A side Palermo have expressed an interest and, with 18 months left on his contract, he is another who has yet to commit his future to the club.

Paul Hartley spoke warmly of his relationship with departed head coach Burley last Friday, revealing that a combination of both he and owner Vladimir Romanov were the reasons that he chose to extend his contract in the wake of interest from Celtic.

While it would be wrong to cast Hartley as anything other than committed to the cause at Hearts, it could also be said that he now has one less reason to stay.

A close bond with managers has been the hallmark of Hartley's Hearts career. First, there was Craig Levein, who brought him from St Johnstone and helped turn the once-combustible and under-achieving player into an attacking midfielder of international class. Another close relationship was forged with Levein's replacement, John Robertson, before Burley arrived to persuade the Scotland midfielder to buy into his vision of the future.

It was both he and Rudi Skacel, a Burley loan signing who has proved to be a revelation in Scottish football, who revealed 'For the Gaffer' t-shirts after the win over Dunfermline. Roman Bednar, the Czech striker who is sidelined through injury, had a similar affinity with Burley.

It would be far-fetched to suggest that some kind of mass exodus is imminent, but the importance of securing a new head coach who can restore order and inspire confidence in his playing staff is becoming increasingly vital.

The short and long-term future of the club depends on it.

Of the many inponderables surrounding Hearts at the moment, there is one which is arguably more important than them all. How will the players respond to the off-field turmoil? Last weekend's derby defeat to Hibs owed as much to the Easter Road side's good performance than to any implosion on Hearts' behalf.

With another week of machinations behind them, however, including the departure of chief executive Phil Anderton and chairman George Foulkes, Saturday's clash with Dundee United will provide more sufficient evidence of the impact on the players.

The correllation between off-field turmoil and on-field performance is often played down, but Tynecastle can hardly be a confidence-inspring environment just now. Football players may not get too emotional over the departure of a chairman or chief executive, but it is their managerless status which is the biggest worry just now.

It should not be forgotten that much of Hearts' current on-field renaissance pivoted around the presence of George Burley. Much has been made so far this season of the contribution of the Scottish spine, but the current situation throws up more questions than answers where they are concerned.

It is only a few months since Andy Webster sat out the club's pre-season tour to Ireland amid speculation that a move to Rangers was imminent. He currently has 20 months on his contract, but has yet to sign an extension. Mick McCarthy, the Sunderland manager, was believed to be assessing Webster at Tynecastle two weeks ago and the defender is likely to have no shortage of suitors if he decided to move.

Craig Gordon is not short of suitors either. Serie A side Palermo have expressed an interest and, with 18 months left on his contract, he is another who has yet to commit his future to the club.

Paul Hartley spoke warmly of his relationship with departed head coach Burley last Friday, revealing that a combination of both he and owner Vladimir Romanov were the reasons that he chose to extend his contract in the wake of interest from Celtic.

While it would be wrong to cast Hartley as anything other than committed to the cause at Hearts, it could also be said that he now has one less reason to stay.

A close bond with managers has been the hallmark of Hartley's Hearts career. First, there was Craig Levein, who brought him from St Johnstone and helped turn the once-combustible and under-achieving player into an attacking midfielder of international class. Another close relationship was forged with Levein's replacement, John Robertson, before Burley arrived to persuade the Scotland midfielder to buy into his vision of the future.

It was both he and Rudi Skacel, a Burley loan signing who has proved to be a revelation in Scottish football, who revealed 'For the Gaffer' t-shirts after the win over Dunfermline. Roman Bednar, the Czech striker who is sidelined through injury, had a similar affinity with Burley.

It would be far-fetched to suggest that some kind of mass exodus is imminent, but the importance of securing a new head coach who can restore order and inspire confidence in his playing staff is becoming increasingly vital.

The short and long-term future of the club depends on it.

Taken from the Herald