I COULDN'T BARR CHAIRMAN

GRAHAM RIX should count his blessings that Vladimir Romanov is just picking the team for him - Gordon Dalziel had his chairman calling the shots from the dug-out.

The Raith Rovers boss admits his relationship with Bill Barr during his spell in charge of Ayr was sometimes too close for comfort.

As Hearts fans despair at the Lithuanian owner's apparent meddling in team affairs, the fiasco has brought Dalziel's memories of Somerset Park flooding back.

He said: "Bill used to join me in the dug-out and at times it was like a scene from Chewing The Fat as I jumped out to shout instructions and he'd be at my shoulder doing the same.

"He was a great chairman and it was more to do with his bad eyesight that he sat on the bench as he couldn't see the action so well from the stand.

"There were always people who found it strange that I had the chairman sitting next to me but it was good to have him there as it showed he cared.

"But the bottom line was that he was the chairman and could do what he wanted. If he wanted to get involved then it was his decision.

"The nearest he got to picking a team was when he asked on a Friday for the line-up - but he knew where to draw the line.

"It's difficult to know what is going on at Hearts but as soon as a manager stops picking the side he's no longer manager.

"If Romanov is in charge of who plays then it should be made public because the manager stands or falls by his decisions as he carries the can if it goes wrong.

"Rix has stated how much he enjoys being at Hearts but if the manager is no longer in charge it undermines his position among the players.

"If Romanov wants to be the manager then he should say so."

It's not just East European tycoons who have tried to overstep the mark in a Scottish club. At the bottom of the scale there has been unrest at East Stirling as members of the board have viewed themselves as would-be bosses.

Former Firs Park gaffer Dennis Newall had his chief executive Les Thomson filling his shoes even before he had his feet under the table.

He said: "Les was asked by an author writing a book about the club if the manager would have a problem with him being in the dressing room and dug-out.

"As famously stated in the book Les said, 'Don't worry son, I'm the manager here, he'll do what he's told'.

"Sometimes that's the hand you're dealt in life and Alex Ferguson would have had a job working under that regime.

"We had our chairman Alan Mackin taking players aside before games as he passed on his coaching tips but you just need to get on with things.

"I had players I wanted to bring in but was told they weren't wanted and there were favourites I was advised to keep.

"It doesn't matter if it's the top league or the bottom - the same principle applies in management.

"Hearts need to sort themselves out before their season is ruined by unrest."

Taken from the Daily Record