RIX AXE THE RIGHT DECISION - DEANS

VLADIMIR ROMANOV'S decision to sack Graham Rix has been backed by former Hearts chairman Leslie Deans.

Deans and Edinburgh businessman Robert McGrail agreed to sell the controversial Lithuanian their 18 per cent shareholding in November which allowed Romanov to continue in his quest to become owner of the Tynecastle club.

He now owns 81 per cent of the shares and his increasing power in Gorgie was never more evident than on Wednesday morning when he terminated Rix's contract after just 19 matches in charge.

And Deans, who also supported Romanov's decision last October to part company with George Burley, remains unwavering in his support.

He said: "An awful lot of people would like to have Vladimir Romanov in charge at their club.

"I sympathise with anyone who loses their job and I liked Graham but I respect the right of Vladimir to make that decision.

"What is important to remember is that without Vladimir, Hearts would no longer be at Tynecastle and the stadium would be a building site. Players like Rudi Skacel and Edgaras Jankauskas would never have come here and players like Craig Gordon, Paul Hartley and Andy Webster would have been sold, probably to the Old Firm."

Deans played down the latest controversy and insists Hearts can still finish the season on a high.

He added: "There are always people who take great pleasure in sniping at Hearts, mainly, I have to say, from the west coast media.

"Sometimes it's justified, sometimes it is not but what's been done has been done. It's incredibly important now that we have stability.

"Everybody, and I mean everybody, should focus on our chance to get to the

Taken from the Daily Record