Romanov retakes command of Hearts and minds

A vital share deal and a 3-0 win over Dundee United puts the Lithuanian and his club back on top of the league. Alan Campbell reports

VLADIMIR Romanov notched up an important victory yesterday when the two remaining significant stakeholders in Hearts gave a conditional acceptance to sell him the bulk of their shares. The Lithuanian celebrated further when his side recorded a stylish 3-0 win over Dundee United to return to the top of the Premierleague.

By the time the game had started, word had filtered out that Leslie Deans, a former chairman, and Robert McGrail had reached an agreement with Romanov. He is now close to the 75% equity he needs to delist Hearts from the stock exchange.

At the end of a turbulent week when chief executive Phil Anderton was sacked and chairman George Foulkes resigned, the supporters gave a muted welcome to Romanov when he arrived in the directors’ box just before kick-off. For once he wasn’t bedecked in a Hearts scarf, but as his club eased to a comfortable win the mood became more benign and he acknowledged shouts of support with a wave.

Appeasing Deans and McGrail, who were unhappy about Anderton’s removal, was crucial to Romanov’s plans. He flew back to Edinburgh on Friday to persuade the two men his plans for Hearts were in the club’s best interests.

“He explained to me in detail his medium-term football and business strategy for this club going forward,” said Deans, who left the board when he fell out with former chief executive Chris Robinson. “He also, at my request, gave me details following the recent departure of former chief executive Phil Anderton. I now understand the bus iness rationale behind that departure. I’m satisfied with the explanation that was given to me, as is Robert McGrail.

“That was significant, as was the rumour that has been going around that Chris Robinson was making a comeback to Tynecastle. I asked Vladimir Romanov to give us an undertaking, categorically, that Mr Robinson would not be employed by the club, nor be appointed as a director. I’m very pleased to confirm that Mr Romanov unreservedly gave that undertaking.”

Deans’ new position on Anderton is at variance with that of Foulkes, who resigned over the issue.

“The club haven’t commented on Phil’s departure and Phil hasn’t commented. It wouldn’t be very fair if I spilt the beans,” said Deans. “George is entitled to his opinions and I’m entitled to mine. I was impressed with what Vladimir said at our meeting, as I have been on previous occasions. I first met him in the early part of 2004 and, along with George Foulkes, worked quite tirelessly to open the door … culminating in him buying Mr Robinson’s shares and then buying a proportion of mine.

“He’s wealthy, and this club needs stabilised in a financial sense. He was described by George as ruthless, but to me ruthlessness is a two-way thing. It’s not altogether criticism. You need a degree of ruthlessness in the football business. To take us to the top you need strong leadership. I am convinced that he is a man who offers us that.”

Asked what was the difference between Robinson’s style, which some described as dictatorial, and Romanov’s, Deans replied: “In one word – competence.”

Romanov, who has appointed his son, Roman, chairman and temporary chief executive, had already brought his shareholding up to 55% when he bought shares owned by Scottish Media Group and HBOS. These transactions have still to be finalised, as have the deals with Deans and McGrail, and are awaiting this week’s release of the offer document.

The acquisition of the latter shares takes Romanov’s holding up to around 71%. An offer of 35p a share will be made to the remaining stakeholders. Deans has also sold 300,000 shares, around 2% of the company, to the Heart of Midlothian Supporters’ Trust. They could end up with a representative on the board, as could Deans.

“If the boss wished me to join the board I’d sit down and discuss it with him,” he said. “If we were like-minded, I may well say yes. I’ve said to Vladimir I believe, in the interests of justice being seen to be done, that there should be Scottish directors. I’m not casting aspersions on the integrity of the Lithuanian directors … but I believe it would be a good thing if we had one or two Scottish directors.

“I can well see that it makes sense to have a supporters’ representative on the board because it’s about pulling the Hearts family together under this guy’s leadership to drive home this challenge to the Old Firm duopoly.”

Still managerless after the sacking of George Burley, Hearts hope to have a new man in charge before their next game, against Aberdeen at Pittodrie in a fortnight.

06 November 2005

Taken from the Sunday Herald