Burley 'sacked' for not going to alcohol clinic

The bitter dispute between Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov and George Burley, the manager he allegedly dismissed in October, took a new twist yesterday when it was claimed that the Lithuania-based businessman removed Burley from his post after the Scot refused to attend a clinic abroad which specialises in dealing with alcoholics.

Burley, who has persistently denied allegations that he has a drink problem, was asked to spend three weeks drying out at the centre. He dismissed the suggestion on the grounds that it was unnecessary and would also prove disruptive to the team, who he had guided to the best start to any season in the club's 132-year history.

Burley, now the manager of Coca-Cola Championship side Southampton, claims the offer was a ploy designed to remove him from centre stage so that Romanov could enjoy a greater influence on team selection.

On the day he left, Hearts beat Dunfermline 2-0 at Tynecastle and players revealed T-shirts under their strips bearing messages in support of their departing manager. The Edinburgh club were then six points clear of Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premier League. They now trail Gordon Strachan's side by 14 points having played a match more.

Burley had grown increasingly concerned by what he regarded as interference from Romanov. While it was well known that many of the players who arrived at Tynecastle last summer had been identified by the former Russian submariner rather than Burley, it was assumed that the latter would always have the final say on tactics and team selection.

Burley, England's manager of the year in 2001 while with Ipswich Town, also enjoyed a successful spell with Derby County - where he was subjected to similar allegations of drinking - before choosing to leave Pride Park in June 2005, claiming that his position had been made untenable by the board.

However, Romanov's offer to commit him, mid-season, to what Burnley regarded as an unnecessary course of rehabilitation was the main reason for his departure from Tynecastle. While Burley is convinced that there has been an orchestrated whispering campaign to discredit him, his successor, Graham Rix, has also been forced to work in conditions which few coaches would accept.

Last month Rix held a team meeting to inform the players that Romanov had picked the team for the following night's match against Dundee United and that he was "powerless" to act. The game at Tannadice ended in a 1-1 draw.

On Friday evening, at a press conference called at his own behest, chairman Roman Romanov, Vladimir's Romanov's son, stated that winning the Tennent's Scottish Cup and claiming a Champions League place by finishing second might not be enough for Rix to keep his job.

The chairman also made it clear that Hearts had no intention in honouring the remaining 20 months of Burley's two-year contract, a sum amounting to about £900,000.

"If the contract can't be honoured then why should we pay compensation?" he said. "If we feel he deserves compensation we would pay it."

Burley now intends to pursue the matter through the courts. Hearts were unavailable to comment last night.

Taken from telegraph.co.uk