Hearts stand firm on payout

Romanov confirmed that negotiations are still ongoing between all three parties, but if his bullish public stance is a representation of the club’s position then neither Burley nor Anderton should expect a quick conclusion. “No compensation has been paid to George Burley or Phil Anderton,” said Romanov last Friday.

“We are still negotiating over the amount. If the contract cannot be honoured anymore then why should we pay someone compensation? If we feel he deserves compensation we will pay it but at this moment that is not clear.”

The son of the club’s Lithuanian-based owner, Vladimir Romanov, added that there could be more changes at the club during the summer. While there was a vote of confidence for Jim Duffy, the recently-installed sporting director, Graham Rix, the head coach, received no such backing.

“We are new to him and he is new to us, but at this moment we are happy with what we are getting from Jim Duffy and hopeful that we can work together,” said Romanov, who would say only that Rix’s position was one of many under review at the end of a season of turmoil at Tynecastle.

Team Romanov are now convinced that their primary target, the Premierleague championship, can now be achieved sooner than the three-year timescale first set out by the Russian millionaire. Second place may now not be enough to extend Rix’s stay at the club. “At the end of the season we will analyse where we are and see what went wrong,” said the chairman.

When it came to the season’s most dramatic chapters, Romanov contradicted almost every reported account of events. A phone call between his father and Burley, reportedly offering a return to the club prior to the appointment of Rix, was “a misinterpretation. Vladimir had this conversation with George Burley. I know what was said and it was not about coming back”.

On the allegations that his father selected the team played by Rix, Romanov contradicted reports of what was said between Rix and his players. “That was a misunderstanding,” he said. “Vladimir does not have the knowledge to pick the team and it is not his job. He might suggest certain things, like in an argument between two people.”

It is possible to conclude that Romanov was saying the same things to Rix as he had said to Burley, and the difference was in the response of the managers.

Taken from timesonline.co.uk