Rix is sacked in latest farce at Hearts

Ewan Murray
Thursday March 23, 2006
The Guardian

Hearts' owner Vladimir Romanov yesterday removed his third manager within 10 months when he dismissed Graham Rix, with the club's director of football Jim Duffy also told his services were no longer required.

Rix had been in the job for four months and 19 matches and Duffy, brought in to act as a buffer between head coach and owner, lasted only five weeks in that role. Rix said his farewells to the squad shortly after receiving the news in the morning.

The club's chairman Roman Romanov said: "We have been disappointed with the performance of the team. Results were not what they should have been. We also felt that some of the signings made in January were not appropriate for Hearts."

Unlike events in October, when George Burley was sacked as manager despite the club being unbeaten at the top of the Scottish Premierleague, the club's supporters are not unanimously disappointed with the dismissal of Rix, who was never fully embraced after a troubled start to his Tynecastle career. But the growing sense in football that Romanov's regime is not to be entertained by other managers has ensured that one of Britain's oldest and proudest professional clubs is rapidly becoming a laughing stock despite enjoying its most successful season for many years.

"My thoughts just now are with Graham," said Duffy. "He has lost his job, and that was harsh. I feel strongly about that."

Valdas Ivanauskas, a 39-year-old former Hamburg midfielder and the previous coach of the Lithuanian club FBK Kaunas, has been put in charge until the end of the season after being one of the few constant figures on Hearts' staff in recent months.

Although Hearts claimed results since Rix's appointment last November had not been good enough - the former Arsenal and England player won nine games during his time - events surrounding Sunday's 1-1 draw with Rangers clearly accelerated moves by the Tynecastle club's owner to change the management team.

Sources close to Hearts believe Romanov made it clear in advance of that crucial league game that he did not want the midfielder Julien Brellier in the starting XI. Nevertheless the Frenchman started on Sunday. Brellier was brought to the club by Burley but Romanov has constantly bemoaned his inclusion in the team despite many commanding displays.

Brellier would only smile and say "I cannot speak" when asked about the situation yesterday, but Duffy would not deny that he and Rix had been told to leave the Frenchman out. Romanov's spokesman said the story was "not related at all" to the sackings.

Roman Romanov said last Friday that Rix's position would not be reviewed until summer - "We are happy with what is being done by the manager at the moment but, of course, we expect more. The manager is expected to win every game, but we will assess the situation in the summer and make our decisions then."

Vladimir Romanov was not at Tynecastle for Sunday's match, which ensured Hearts stayed six points ahead of Rangers in the race for second place in the SPL - and in the Champions League - but swiftly made the decision to sack Rix. The former Portsmouth and Oxford manager so follows Burley and John Robertson, dismissed last May, as Romanov rejects.

Craig Levein left Romanov on good terms when he resigned in October 2004. Levein was sacked by Leicester early this year and is likely to be in the owner's thoughts as he seeks Rix's longer-term replacement.

Meanwhile, Ivanauskas has the job of maintaining Hearts' quest for a Champions League qualifying place and overcoming their city rivals Hibernian in the Scottish Cup semi-final a week on Sunday.

Tynecastle turbulence

Sept 24 2005 George Burley's team gain their eighth SPL victory in a row with a 1-0 home win over Rangers to sit five points clear at the top.

Oct 22 Burley leaves due to "irreconcilable differences" after a stormy meeting with Romanov.

Oct 31 Romanov sacks Hearts' chief executive Phil Anderton. The chairman George Foulkes resigns .

Nov 8 Hearts unveil Graham Rix as head coach on a six-month contract amid protest from their own fans.

Feb 7 2006 Rix tells players Romanov picked the team in advance of a 1-1 draw with Dundee United.

March 22 Rix sacked after 19 games.

Taken from the Guardian/Observer