ROMANOV EMPIRE BUILDING - PRESTON

Former Hearts defender Allan Preston believes Vladimir Romanov is trying to build a siege mentality at Tynecastle with his 'alternative' Christmas message.

The Tynecastle majority shareholder raised eyebrows with his programme notes ahead of the 5-0 Bank of Scotland Premier League win over Falkirk.

The Lithuanian revealed his contempt for "agents, journalists, jealous hangers-on and other 'wunderkind"' in his festive column.

Romanov also claimed his targets were being driven on by the "devil", while he would "bid them farewell on their road to hell."

However, the former Livingston manager believes there is a method behind Romanov's unorthodox stewardship of the Gorgie club.

The Jambos are currently second in the SPL table, holding a seven-point advantage over Hibernian while Rangers are a further six points adrift.

Preston said: "It was a lovely festive message - certainly interesting. But it is his club and he can say what he likes.

"I think he is trying to create a siege mentality, making Hearts a close-knit club and, as a manager, you want that sort of thing.

"He is also doing what Graeme Souness did with Rangers in the 1980s - he has got people talking about his club.

"People are taking notice of Hearts for the first time in years.

"It seemed to have the desired effect and the team played well against Falkirk.

"I am not sure what the fans will think of it all, if anything.

"But I am sure, if you had offered them second place in the league at the start of the season - with the possibility of a Champions League place - then they would have taken it."

Meanwhile, Hearts captain Steven Pressley believes a return to basics helped them to a morale-boosting win ahead of the showdown with SPL leaders Celtic on New Year's Day.

Goals from Paul Hartley, Rudi Skacel, Michal Pospisil and a Calum Elliot double downed the Bairns, who had midfielder Stephen O'Donnell dismissed.

But the Scotland international was particularly delighted for first team coach Graham Rix, who has endured an uncomfortable start to his Tynecastle career.

Pressley told Hearts World: "We got back to doing what we do best, which are the basics of the game.

"We play with high intensity, with purpose and put teams under pressure and, if we play in that same manner, then we will continue to get results like this one.

"We worked on things in training and the manager spoke about a number of things we needed to do adopt to our play and we seemed to respond in the right manner.

"It has not been easy for the manager, everybody has different styles and different ways they want their teams to play and it does take time.

"We have desperately wanted to get a result for the manager like that.

"It was a fantastic result, a fantastic performance and it certainly sets us up for a fantastic game on January 1."

Taken from sportinglife.com