TOO MANY TOO LATE

VLADIMIR ROMANOV has just signed a team for Hearts that risks upsetting the balance of the dressing room at the club.

I applaud Romanov's ambition for the Jambos but 11 new players in a transfer window is a heck of a lot and arguably too many to bring in at one time.

I'm a great believer in squad strengthening when the opportunity arises but at this stage of the season most clubs should be looking at adding one or two players to complete their jigsaw for the challenges that remain in the campaign.

If you sign up 11, unless you're building for the future, it can cause discontent in the dressing room because there are experienced players who will not be happy at their non-involvement on matchday.

Sadly for Hearts, I reckon their championship chance disappeared the moment George Burley left Tynecastle in October because his departure caused discontent and confusion throughout the club.

Granted, Burley is struggling to some degree with his new club Southampton but he could have built on all he achieved in the first quarter of the season.

If they were even closer to the summit of the SPL than they are now then Romanov and Burley could have gone for two or three quality players, maximum, to strengthen Hearts' title bid in the closing weeks of the season but I fear it's too late for that now.

The damage has already been done to the championship challenge and the reason so many players were brought in was to boost the objectives of the club in the next two to three years, rather than the short term.

The players Hearts have brought to the club look quality performers but, if I'm being honest, I find it very, very strange that eight players with the Jambos are now on loan from FBK Kaunas.

If Romanov was as high-profile as Roman Abramovic he wouldn't get away with it and this is a line the club must tread carefully.

I'm not for a moment suggesting skulduggery is going on but in the modern game agents and transfer fees are regularly scrutinised - and rightly so. It is questionable whether Hearts, or any other club for that matter, should be allowed to take eight players on loan from another team.

Mind you, had it not been for the Jambos there would have been little to discuss in one of the quietest transfer windows since the system was introduced.

I can't believe the criticism Gordon Strachan has taken for signing Dion Dublin until the end of the season.

I'm glad Dion made reference to Gary McAllister at yesterday's press conference because I reckon my old Scotland pal enjoyed the most fruitful period of his career when he moved to Liverpool in his veteran stages.

Scottish fans are the worst in the world for pre-judging players and Celtic supporters would do well to remind themselves just how good a pro their club has signed.

Yes, Dion's very best days are behind him but he has an outrageous amount of experience and can play two or three positions.

Admittedly, he does not have the same quality now as Chris Sutton but he has enormous stature and supporters should hold their horses before rushing to condemn.

Rangers chairman David Murray is also getting it in the neck and I understand the frustration of fans after the club failed to add to the signature of Kris Boyd in the transfer window, which was a surprise to me.

The chairman said eight weeks or so ago the club would strengthen the squad in the summer and I wonder if he isn't happier with the look of his squad now Alex McLeish has turned it around.

Boyd is scoring goals and, crazy as it sounds, Peter Lovenkrands and Chris Burke are like two new players, with the likes of Brahim Hemdani and Gavin Rae on their way back.

A couple of months ago I wonder if the chairman didn't think, 'Jeez, we need a couple of players in quick', but now he has taken stock and decided the need isn't as pressing.

Again, it's a surprise to me but perhaps budgets are playing a part in the decision-making process because gone are the days when £12million would be forked out on Tore Andre Flo.

The club's non-activity in the transfer market is adding fuel to the fire of the belief money is being held over for a new manager in the summer but I'm not 100 per cent sure.

It's to the credit of big Alex the team are now challenging for a Champions League place after a disastrous spell six weeks ago when they were struggling.

Of course, he did try to bring Derek Riordan to the club and there's definitely something in the Hibs striker, although he is by no means the finished article.

He has two great feet, is comfortable on the ball and while he drifts in and out of games, he still has a lot of experience to gain.

I would expect him to progress further at a bigger club such as Rangers and while I have sympathy for the predicament of Hibs I still reckon they should have taken the money on offer.

Unfortunately, the system in place at the moment favours the bigger clubs and in-demand players have also never been in a stronger bargaining position.

I have great sympathy for Hibs, who have helped nurture a kid into the professional game and developed a player with bags of potential.

They deserve to be compensated but if Riordan wants to go to Rangers when his contract expires then it's Rangers and Riordan who are holding all the cards and there's nothing the Easter Road club can do about it.

As told to Gary Ralston

Taken from the Daily Record