Hearts' wild ride ends with Champions League slot

By Kenny MacDonald

GLASGOW May 4 (Reuters) - After four coaches, two chairmen and endless soul-searching, Hearts have ended a turbulent 12 months by qualifying for Europe's elite club competition for the first time in 46 years.

In a typical Tynecastle twist, the Edinburgh club secured their first appearance in the Champions League on the 20th anniversary of the biggest heartache in their history when they blew the Scottish title in the final minutes of the season.

On Wednesday Lithuanian owner Vladimir Romanov joined players on the pitch to soak up the fans' adulation after a 1-0 defeat of Aberdeen secured Hearts second place in the Scottish Premier League.

Romanov, who took over the club in February last year, has courted controversy and acclaim in equal measure this season.

He initially won over fans by rescinding the unpopular sale of the Tynecastle stadium.

Previous owner Chris Robinson had brokered a deal to sell Hearts' home for more than a century for housing and play home matches at nearby Murrayfield, home of the Scottish Rugby Union.

The Lithuanian banking tycoon installed former Derby County and Ipswich Town manager George Burley as manager following the June removal of John Robertson, the club's highest-ever scorer.

Burley enjoyed a sensational start to his SPL campaign, winning his first nine games despite reports that Romanov was interfering in team selection.

Burley had kept Hearts top of the table with draws against Falkirk, with 10 men after keeper Craig Gordon was sent off, and Celtic before he was dramatically sacked hours before a home match with Dunfermline in October.

CLUB ROCKED

During the process of finding a new manager, former England boss Bobby Robson spoke to the club and appeared poised for a return to football when the club was rocked yet again.

Chief executive Phil Anderton was sacked and the chairman, member of parliament George Foulkes, quit in protest, branding Romanov a dictator.

Robson quietly removed himself from the reckoning as manager while Romanov installed his son Roman as the new chairman.

There was even more controversy to follow. Hearts replaced Burley with former Arsenal player Graham Rix, a convicted sex offender, provoking protests from women's groups and sections of supporters.

Rix kept Hearts in the reckoning for the title despite being overtaken by Celtic, before revealing to his players on the eve of a game at Dundee United that he no longer picked the team.

Hearts drew that game 1-1 and on March 22 Rix was sacked.

Lithuanian coach Valdas Ivanauskas moved into the hot seat and after clinching a Scottish Cup final place with a 4-0 win over Edinburgh rivals Hibernian he has now taken the club into Europe.

Exactly 20 years ago on Wednesday, Hearts gave away two late goals at Dundee to hand Celtic the title on goal difference thanks to a 5-0 win over St Mirren.

That would have been Hearts' first title since 1960 and though they are still searching for top spot, second place behind Celtic and ahead of Rangers - the first time the Glasgow Old Firm have not finished first and second for 12 years - represents a momentous achievement.

"We have come a long way in 10 months and this (Champions League place) is a fantastic achievement for us," club captain Steven Pressley told BBC Radio Scotland.

"I believe this is the start of something special. The Old Firm have not been split now for 12 years so that shows the size of task. For us to achieve that is great."

A perfect end to the season could be sealed on Saturday week when Hearts are favourites to beat third division Gretna in the Cup final.