Ewan Murray
Saturday April 1, 2006
The Guardian

Vladimir Romanov is on his fourth manager of the season, a fact that may give pause to the most impatient of football moguls, but victory in tomorrow's Scottish Cup semi-final against Hibernian would hand the Hearts owner reasonable grounds to believe his latest high-profile decision has been vindicated.

Romanov has come under fierce criticism after sacking Graham Rix, John Robertson and George Burley. Yet though the club's reputation has been tarnished, it would be lurid to suggest Hearts are on a fast track to oblivion. They are favourites to lift the Scottish Cup - which would be only their third trophy in 44 years. Though Romanov pushed the button on a rollercoaster, supporters remain determined to enjoy the ride.

"So far Romanov has done nothing which contradicts what he said his initial aims were," says Martin Laidlaw, chairman of the Hearts Supporters Trust. "He has encouraged dialogue between the club and supporters, raised expectations beyond all recognition and demonstrated an ability to beat the Old Firm.

"If he were to walk away tomorrow, his involvement with Hearts would have cost him a lot of money."

Such sentiment is borne out by the facts. Romanov's plans for debt reconsolidation, which will soon see the club's borrowings of close to £25m included in the Ukio Bankas Investment Group's portfolio, are not dissimilar to methods employed by the Rangers owner David Murray. Romanov's initial and possibly sole aim, to establish Ukio in the British financial sector, is already well on the road to being secured.

"From the first moment I met Vladimir, back in January of last year, I was utterly convinced that he was the man to take Hearts forward. That view has not changed," said the former club chairman Leslie Deans, who has since sold his shareholding to the Lithuanian banker.

If Romanov plans to asset-strip Hearts he is employing a highly unorthodox method as the club's wages bill is estimated to have increased by £60,000 a week in January alone.

One other constant, allied to the continued backing of fans, has been the single-mindedness of the Hearts squad. "These players have been through more in the space of one season than many of us witnessed in our entire careers," said Gary Mackay, who in 17 years made a record number of appearances for the club but did not collect a single winner's medal.

George Foulkes resigned as chairman, but even he retains a strong belief that the owner will act for Hearts' betterment. "Vladimir is utterly determined to succeed with the club," said the Labour peer.

Eye-catching talents such as Edgaras Jankauskas and Rudi Skacel have been brought to Tynecastle and contributed to sell-out crowds at virtually every home game. Romanov has banked on such support, and an existing first-class training centre, as a means to prove to potential recruits that his aspirations for Hearts are not unattainable pipe dreams.

If he can deliver the Scottish Cup, and with it the tangible success that matters most to the 25,000 maroon-clad followers who will descend on Hampden Park tomorrow, Romanov will have cause to consider his moves utterly justified.

Taken from the Guardian/Observer