ROMANOV TIMELINE

JUNE:

June 30, 2005: Hearts chief executive Phil Anderton and chairman George Foulkes unveil new boss George Burley at Tynecastle.

JULY:

Hearts sign Edgaras Jankauskas, Rudi Skacel and Takis Fyssas and with the combination of the financial backing of Romanov and Burley in charge of the team Hearts fans enter the season in optimistic mood.

AUGUST:

Hearts make an outstanding start to the season, winning their first eight SPL games.

OCTOBER:

As Hearts go 10 SP L games undefeated, club owner Romanov says he wants to buy all the shares in the club. Romanov states his ultimate aim is for Hearts to win the Champions League.

However, in a dramatic development on October 22 Burley and Hearts part company just hours before an SPL match against Dunfermline. "Irreconcilable differences" are cited as the reason for the manager's departure, amid claims of interference in team selection by Romanov. John McGlynn is put in temporary charge.

Romanov insists the club will appoint a "big managerial name" to succeed Burley. Sir Bobby Robson, Nevio Scala and Claudio Ranieri are all linked with the Tynecastle hotseat but none are appointed.

Hearts then crash to their first league defeat of the season when they lose to Hibs.

In the aftermath chief executive Anderton is dismissed. Foulkes resigns in protest. Vladimir Romanov's son, Roman, is appointed chairman and temporary chief executive.

NOVEMBER:

November 7: Hearts stun the football world with the controversial appointment of Graham Rix as their new head coach. The former Chelsea, Portsmouth and Oxford coach is on the sex offenders' register after a 1999 conviction for a sex offence involving an underage girl.

November 11: Rix's first game in charge, against Aberdeen at Pittodrie, ends in a 1-1 draw.

DECEMBER:

Hearts manage victory in just two of Rix's first six league games.

JANUARY:

January 1, 2006: Hearts' title ambitions suffer a major setback when they lose 3-2 to Celtic on New Year's Day. After blowing a two-goal lead they fall seven points behind the league leaders. January 31: In a whirlwind of transfer-window deadline day activity, Hearts bring the total of new players added during the month to an unprecedented 11. The Gorgie club spend the best part of £2million expanding the first-team squad to 37 players.

February

February 4: Hearts continue their Scottish Cup quest with a 3-0 win over Aberdeen in the fourth round to book a place in the quarter-finals.

February 7: Rix holds a team meeting to explain why Robbie Neilson and Andy Webster have been dropped from the starting 11 for last night's game against Dundee United to make way for Martin Petras and Ludek Straceny.

The coach reveals "hands-on" owner Romanov is in charge of team selection. Hearts insist Rix has not left the club as speculation about his future sweeps Scotland.

Taken from the Daily Record