Pressley to lead players in Romanov confrontation

ROB ROBERTSON February 08 2006

Hearts players are set to make Scottish football history by officially complaining to their club owner over his interference in team selection for last night's match against Dundee United.

The first team squad will hold a private meeting today to draw up their strategy against Vladimir Romanov, the Lithuanian multi-millionaire who controls the club. Captain Steven Pressley said that "you would see in days to come that action of some sort will take place".

Pressley said that he wanted all the squad on side before they spelt out their next move and that was the reason for the meeting today.

"Players will be having a meeting to discuss things and work out what to do next," said Pressley. "It is important we are all together on this and any moves we make we have to make as a team."

Pressley said they would decide after their team meeting whether they wanted a face-to-face discussion with Romanov on his interference in team selection for last night's match against Dundee United which Hearts drew 1-1.

A spokesman for Romanov said he would be perfectly happy to meet the players. He also denied that Romanov had picked a team despite several players telling The Herald that is what Rix had told them.

Although Pressley said he wanted a peaceful solution, the fact the players are meeting to discuss an organised protest shows the massive gulf between players and coaching staff and the club's owner.

Matters came to a head after Romanov forced Graham Rix, the Hearts' manager into six changes for last night's match despite the fact the side had won their last two games against Hibs and Aberdeen comprehensively.

Rix was called to a meeting with Romanov on Monday evening and told to make the changes. He accepted that Takis Fyssas, Rudi Skacel and Paul Hartley should return to the side after injuries and suspensions. However, he was unhappy at having to give first team debuts to recent signings Ludek Straceny and Martin Petras. He also could not understand why he was forced to drop Scottish internationalist Andy Webster and replace him with Christophe Berra.

Yesterday, Rix held a team meeting to announce the starting 11 and admitted the changes had not been of his making. Being dropped so incensed Webster that he has told the club he will not countenance extending his Tynecastle contract despite the fact talks have already begun.

Rix apologised to the players for the changes and said he was powerless to stop Romanov having his way.

Following last night's draw, Pressley said: "It has been a very difficult day for the players. We have had to endure a lot time and time again for this football club. We are 100% behind our manager who is a great coach and a lovely man.

"Whether we call for a meeting with Mr Romanov depends on how our meeting goes."

When it was put to him that Rix had admitted he had lost control of team affairs, Pressley added: "We have sympathy with our manager and I do not want to go into fine details."

It was when Pressley was asked for his views on Romanov, however, that the real passion in him came to the fore. "No person is bigger than the football club," said Pressley. "Everything is about this football club. Steven Pressley and Graham Rix will leave this club but the club itself will always be here. As captain I have responsibility for this football club and take that seriously."

Pressley said the players had a number of options to consider with regards to making their protest known to Romanov and reiterated they were 100% behind Rix.

Asked if he understood why Rix would consider leaving the club, Pressley said: "We hope he does not walk away."

Rix tried to suggest everything was on an even keel but his refusal to answer questions showed that was not the case. "I am going into work tomorrow as usual to prepare for the Aberdeen game," he said. "I am not going to comment on who picked a team, and if the lads told you things, it's up to them."

He claimed that Webster had not been dropped despite the fact he played on Saturday against Aberdeen and was on the bench last night but did not get on.

Another Hearts player whom The Herald has spoken to said: "Things are getting out of hand and that is why the players have to make a stand. Romanov seems to think he is director of football and Graham is the head coach who will do his bidding. If Romanov had a good background in football, that would be okay but he is a businessman and cannot just pick the team."

Romanov's interference in first team affairs is nothing new. George Burley left the club after he got sick of his constant meddling. However, he has clearly not learned any lessons from that time. Rix must now be seriously considering his future and whether he can continue as head coach while not being allowed independence to pick the team.

Taken from the Herald