ROMANOV: WE WON'T GIVE BURLEY ONE PENNY

HEARTS chairman Roman Romanov last night revealed George Burley hasn't been paid compensation - because he doesn't deserve a penny.

Tynecastle chiefs have been battling Burley's claim for a pay-off since sacking him as manager in October. And Romanov claims Burley has received too much credit for the side's superb start to the season.

Roman, son of owner Vladimir Romanov, reckons his father should take the plaudits and also hit back at claims that Burley was asked to come back within a fortnight of his dismissal.

He said: "Why should we pay Burley compensation?

"If we feel he deserved to get compensation we would pay it.

"Burley came in almost at the beginning of the season and the team was already built.

"To give him all the credit isn't fair. Team work did it and Burley has only played a part.

"The key players had already been signed so the credit should go to who brought these players here and who kept them here.

"The club couldn't move forward with the situation we had. It couldn't have been done differently - either from George Burley's side or ours.

"Both parties felt it was impossible to move forward so why try to force something?

"We might have been top of the league when we he left but we don't know where we would be today if he hadn't gone.

"I don't have any regrets because nothing could have been done differently.

"It's a little misinterpreted that we asked Burley back. I know what we talked about and it was NOT about him coming back as manager."

After refusing to confirm current boss Graham Rix's job is safe if he can secure second place and a Champions League slot this season, Romanov Jnr sounded more positive about Jim Duffy's chances of remaining as the club's director of football.

Roman also confirmed new Rangers boss Paul Le Guen was on Vladimir's list of candidates when seeking a replacement for Burley last year.

He said: "Le Guen was one of the names but we had many more. There were never any talks. Hearts want a manager who has to prove something - we are not looking for big names."

Taken from the Sunday Mail