VLADIHELL

JIMMY CALDERWOOD last night warned Vladimir Romanov that interfering with team selection could wreck Hearts' hope of doing the Double.

Aberdeen manager Calderwood revealed he would not permit anyone other than his trusted backroom men to name a line-up at Pittodrie.

And he told Romanov that his meddling in team affairs at Tynecastle had seriously damaged boss Graham Rixs credibility in the dressing room.

Calderwood is amazed at the upheaval surrounding Lithuanian tycoon Romanov and the Jambos.

He said: "I don't know if what I have heard is true as Graham hasn't said anything publicly but if it is right then the owner has definitely undermined his authority.

"He has put Graham in a very difficult position and I don't know the reason why because after his sticky start they have steadied the ship. This is the last thing Hearts need at such a critical stage in the season.

"Hearts are in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup with a home draw and are second top of the league going for the title and challenging for Champions League football so what else do they want?

"I have never spoken with Romanov and probably never will but if this is happening then it is very sad.

"I understand the Hearts players will be speaking to their owner before the game.

"You don't know how that will go as they might take a lot of positives out of their discussions.

"But I don't see this situation having any effect on our game with them on Saturday. It isn't ideal but they have enough strong-willed people in the dressing room to sort them out on the pitch with guys like Craig Gordon, Andy Webster, Paul Hartley and Steven Pressley.

"I talk to people like Jimmy Nicholl, Sandy Clark and sometimes Willie Miller about certain things but I always pick the team myself. If other people have good ideas you take that feedback on board and I would go with it.

"But they would know all about it if they made a mess of it."

Calderwood admitted the Dons are out for revenge at Tynecastle tomorrow for being dumped out of the Scottish Cup.

And he insisted that beating Rangers for a second time this season was a massive boost to their hopes.

He said: "Take nothing away from Hearts who scored a couple of great goals against us but we do go down there with a sense of injustice from last week.

"They are deservedly second top of the league but we want to prove there is not much between us.

"We didn't do that in the Scottish Cup but they got the breaks and I think the 3-0 scoreline flattered them so we have a point to prove.

"They know they will be in for a game but we have to prove we can produce on a regular basis the the sort of performance that beat Rangers.

"We cannot dwell on what is going on behind the scenes at Hearts. I have to concentrate on getting my team to produce the same standard as it has over the last few weeks in the league.

"It's a long time since Aberdeen even scored at Tynecastle but it was a long time since we last beat Rangers twice at home in the same season.

"Records are there to be broken and it will be a tough game for both teams.

"Some of our passing and movement was first-class on Wednesday and at our best we can compet with any side.

"We just haven't delivered often enough which is very frustrating."

Taken from the Daily Record