The 'circus' is right back on track

VLADIMIR ROMANOV today issued a sarcastic rebuke at those who have mocked his stewardship of Hearts when he said: "Tell everyone that things at the circus are progressing right on track."

The Lithuanian-based banker was irked by certain reports in the build-up to Sunday's match with Celtic ridiculing his management of club affairs, in particular the Andy Webster contract wrangle and the medical dispute that has resulted in the suspension of head physio Oliver Finlay.

Romanov made a hurried exit from the directors' box at full-time on Sunday as he headed for the home dressing room, bursting in only seconds after the final whistle to congratulate his players on the 3-0 victory and urge them to seize their Champions League destiny against Aberdeen tomorrow evening.

With Hearts just one win away from securing second place ahead of Rangers, the majority shareholder is adamant that their season of hard toil should not end in anti-climactic fashion.

"Well done and congratulations to you all," Romanov told the players. "You have played a fine match and I would like to thank you for ignoring issues away from the pitch to focus on this match.

"You have done a fine job throughout this season. We are now very near to the Champions League and I ask you all to seize your destiny on Wednesday, for we are all in this together."

Should Hearts attain their passport into top-level European competition, they could face Romanov's adversaries from Lithuania, Ekranas, in the second qualifying round. Ekranas took the Lithuanian A Lyga title from the other club that Romanov financially supports, FBK Kaunas, by a margin of ten points last season. Other possible opponents for Hearts could include Dundee United's UEFA Cup conquerors of this season, MyPa-47 of Finland, as well as Metalurgs Liepaja of Latvia, who are managed by a man who has been linked with the head coach's role at Tynecastle, Benjaminas Zelkevicius.

Potentially hazardous trips to Bosnia or Moldova may also be a possibility for Hearts when the draw for the first two qualifying rounds is made in late June.

Romanov is preparing to overhaul the club's medical staff following the indefinite suspension of Finlay. Reserve physio Andy Caldwell assumed Finlay's duties against Celtic on Sunday but the club owner has received the outcome of a review conducted on Hearts' medical practices.

"The results were upsetting," he said. "I want a strong medical team, so there will be a chief doctor and a deputy chief doctor. There will also be diagnostic specialists who will from time to time check the doctors' work. This is such an important part of the club."

Interim head coach Valdas Ivanauskas was today awaiting the outcome of his appeal against a two-match touchline ban imposed by the SFA last month, after the Lithuanian was sent to the stand at Celtic Park for his vehement protests at being denied a penalty. Ivanauskas has more pressing concerns at present, though, as he awaits news on the fitness of central defender Ibrahim Tall ahead of the match with Aberdeen. "He didn't train yesterday but we are hoping he will train today," said Ivanauskas this morning. "Steven Pressley is in a similar situation with his back and again we need to wait and see how he is nearer to the game."

Hearts have a minor concern over their influential goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who suffered a slight muscle injury against Celtic. "I think Craig is okay and we are not worrying too much about him but we want him to be 100 per cent," added Ivanauskas.

"The players are in good mood after Sunday but we know how big the game is tomorrow. The performance was very good on Sunday and the players enjoyed the day. I enjoyed it myself but we must look forward to Aberdeen now."

Taken from the Scotsman