ROMANOV ANTICS WILL TEAR SCOTS HEART OUT OF HIS CLUB

AFTER the latest farce to engulf a once proud Scottish club the one guarantee in the wacky world of Vladimir Romanov is that we can expect more of the same.

Everyone has been taken aback by the behind-the-scenes turmoil at Tynecastle this season - except the Hearts fans.

Isn't it amazing they persist in lapping up every headline their new owner makes?

To start with Romanov binned Jambos legend John Robertson.

No problem for the growing numbers of boys in maroon.

Forget the fact Robbo had won away from home in Europe and secured a league victory at Celtic Park for the first time in a decade.

He was raw and untested, they said.

So step forward George Burley. An inspired appointment.

Bags of experience, a former Premiership Manager of the Year - Burley had the credentials to take the club forward.

But when he was dumped the Tynecastle faithful accepted that too.

"There must have been stuff going on behind the scenes we don't know about," they said.

"Vlad's still the man."

Romanov was regarded as the saviour because he replaced Chris Robinson but let's face it, Rumplestiltskin could have taken charge and been hailed as a champion.

Anyone but the Pieman was an improvement according to Hearts fans.

I can only assume that as long as they stay at their beloved Tynecastle and belt out their operatic worship of Romanov then the Lithuanian banker can do anything he wants.

What if next season Romanov wants his team to play in the colours of the Lithuanian national flag?

The Gorgie boys are sure to agree it's a good idea.

They'll find some way of seeing where their man is coming from and ditching maroon won't be a problem.

History and tradition will go out the window. Whatever Vlad says is good enough for them.

But the truth is this.

Hearts supporters are revelling in the fact they're second in the SPL and favourites for the Scottish Cup. And so they should be.

They should enjoy the fact they're favourites for a crack at the Champions League. What an achievement if they get there.

However the players, especially the Scots contingent, will think differently.

Hearts' strength over the last couple of years has undoubtedly been their Scottish influence.

Craig Gordon, Robbie Neilson, Steven Pressley and Andy Webster have been outstanding at the back this term.

The SPL table shows they make up the best defence in the country.

Further forward Paul Hartley is in the form of his life.

But this core group of players will now be at breaking point. If they had a choice Webster, Gordon and Hartley would leave tomorrow.

No one likes to be part of a laughing stock. And that's what Hearts have become. Scottish players are used to stability and the upheaval at Tynecastle would unsettle anyone.

This is not Lithuania where five gaffers can come and go in a season and nobody bats an eyelid.

The players are relatively powerless - they're all under contract and will do as Romanov says.

Vlad is even on record as saying he shouldn't have listened to his senior squad members when they supported Graham Rix earlier this season.

For example when Romanov picked the team for the vital league game at Dundee United in February, Webster was inexplicably axed along with a few others.

By all means utilise a big squad but this was on the back of five changes against Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup just days earlier.

Few sides can cope with such unnecessary disruption.

Rix was forced to tell his players it wasn't his decision. And as soon as that reached the press a ruthless owner sealed his fate.

Webster realised this was no ordinary club and stopped contract talks. He has plenty of good years ahead and will attract interest.

The Scotland defender has around 16 months of his contract to run and my guess is he'll be away this summer.

Gordon, a contender for Player of the Year, is fancied down south too. I reckon this will also be his final season at Tynecastle.

Hartley has been a late developer and joining an ambitious English side would appeal.

Pressley is caught in the middle and I feel for him.

The club captain is desperately trying to convey the message that the dressing-room is united and unaffected by off-field turmoil.

No matter how many times he says that I know it's not true.

I played at Celtic with Paul McStay during a difficult period in the club's history and he said the same thing.

The truth is Paul's form suffered and the common factor with Pressley is they both carry a huge burden as passionate leaders of their clubs.

But unlike his younger team-mates Pressley has had his shot at the big time. He's played at Rangers and in England so has no real desire to move.

Elvis comes across as someone who has grown to love Hearts.

The fans have been seduced by promises of big things ahead. But if they do materialise - and it's a big if - there will be few Scots still around to enjoy the success.

Taken from the Sunday Mail