ROMANOVS LINE UP KING OF HEARTS

HEARTS are in talks with a new director of football but he's unlikely to arrive before the summer.

Chairman Roman Romanov admitted his previous claim the club already had someone working incognito was a joke.

But he was deadly serious yesterday about a new appointment at a low-key Jambos agm at Tynecastle.

Romanov expanded on plans to play at Murray field next season while Tynecastle is redeveloped, confirmed their pitch is too small for Champions League football and said they'll address the future of boss Graham Rix at the end of the season.

Romanov repeated the claims of father Vladimir, first revealed in Record Sport last year, that a top man in the football department would be unlikely to be appointed before the end of the season.

He said: "We're still in negotiations. The person himself does not think it appropriate to jump into the position at this stage because there has already been a lot of disruption.

"If our transfers are successful this month we can live without a director of football until the summer."

Around 250 fans heard Romanov junior speak and fans' reaction was positive.

Romanov spoke about plans to tear down the main stand at Tynecastle and build a replacement in time for season 2007-2008.

The club could move to Murrayfield in the interim, although they have refused to rule out playing with only three stands.

But they are likely to move to Murrayfield for sure next season if they qualify for the Champions League because the Tynecastle pitch is only compliant for the UEFA Cup.

Romanov conceded his side's transfer window additions - the arrival of Neil McCann apart - have hardly excited the fans.

But he said: "Please, be patient and let's see who we have in our squad when the window closes on Tuesday."

Rix is contracted only until the end of the season with an option to extend that Romanov insists will only be discussed then.

But the acting chief executive could not resist taking an apparent dig at Scottish officials and former boss George Burley.

He said: "We could have better results but it's not only Graham's fault - other factors have contributed.

"We have a close working relationship on the signing of players. Graham has a say and so does Vladimir. Finally, we have communication."

Taken from the Daily Record