TYNECASTLE STARS HAD TO FIGHT OWNER TO CLAIM 2ND

HEARTS fans will take great pleasure today in travelling to Glasgow and gloating at their Ibrox rivals in the knowledge the Jambos have finally secured the runners-up spot in the SPL and deservedly earned a crack at the Champions League.

For a while it looked as though it was slipping away but in fairness to the players they held their nerve and deserve great credit for splitting the Old Firm for the first time in 13 years.

I've no idea who Hearts will get in the qualifiers but I really hope they reach the group stages.

With the much sought after coach in the shape of Paul Le Guen taking charge of Rangers next season it can only add to the credibility of the Scottish game if there's a serious third force.

If the Jambos do make the group stages Tynecastle will be rocking like never before.

The atmosphere at every game I go to there is terrific. I love it.

It has always been a great place to play but with the added tension of clashes against some of Europe's best sides the fans will relish the occasion.

Undoubtedly the European ties will make for more drama at Tynecastle on the park because whatever happens next season the one guarantee is that with Vladimir Romanov (below) about there will be loads of drama off it.

Fans tell me without the Lithuanian banker there would be no Hearts or at best a Hearts side playing their football away from their beloved Tynecastle, probably at Murrayfield.

Maybe the best players, Paul Hartley and Craig Gordon, would have been sold and so no matter how Romanov goes about his business, as long as the team wins who cares who suffers along the way?

I must say though as much as I admire players' achievements I am no fan of Mr Romanov. He has no class.

He has no respect for football people and no respect for the position of a manager or a coach.

Everyone dances to his tune. If he wants someone to play, they will.

When he wants to interfere, he will.

Maybe there's a method in his madness because he has delivered a successful season - but speak to anyone who has worked alongside him behind the scenes and they'll tell you it's a dictatorship.

If this is the start of a Hearts success story who else will feel the effects of Mad Vlad's axe as he moves from one victim to another?

On the football side, George Burley, Graham Rix and Jim Duffy came and went in jig time. By all accounts none was needed. All Romanov had to do was ask his driver to pick the team.

According to Vlad football games are easy to win.

He regards Andy Webster as the best defensive partner for Steven Pressley but because he doesn't like his agent he doesn't play him. He then rubbishes the influence of Webster's parents. No wonder the stopper's agent is trying to get him a move.

Chief Executive Phil Anderton and director George Foulkes left for different reasons.

Now the latest casualty in a never-ending line of sackings is head physio Ollie Finlay.

Apparently he doesn't wash his hands before doing medical procedures. Nor does he take his ring or watch off when performing such duties. So now the search is on for a head doctor, an assistant and a team of specialists.

In much the same way you ask if anyone believes Valdas Ivanauskas picks the team every week, does anyone believe Finlay lacks professionalism?

The players have been bamboozled yet again but what can they do?

The answer is, not much. How can you defend the nonsense at Tynecastle? They are players who are paid handsomely and they'll get on with it.

The message has to come out that they're all together but I don't believe Romanovs form of leadership is anything to admire.

When managers are given the bullet every few months the mentally strong players take over. And it's down to the leadership in the dressing-room that they've held off Rangers' late surge.

At times they've been fighting their owner. But when they ask to speak to Romanov they're powerless.

Vlad will carry on regardless.

Steven Pressley and his team should enjoy what they've achieved in difficult circumstances because there's much more madness to come.

Whoever the new coach is it's certain he won't last long.

If one is appointed before the Champions League qualifier and misses out on a place in the group stages he'll be a goner.

Will anyone be surprised if there are at least another two or three coaches at Tynecastle next season?

Romanov says his aim is to win the league in three-five years.

If Celtic and Rangers are strong enough next season to push Hearts into third place does anyone think he'll stand for that? No chance. More heads will roll.

I've always believed the most important relationship at any club when you're looking for success is between manager and chairman/owner.

At Tynecastle, manager and owner are one and the same.

So for next season a more competitive SPL will be great to watch. A serious challenge from Hearts to the Old Firm will spur them on to greater efforts so next campaign promises to be at least as eventful if not more so.

My guess is there will be much, much more from the boys in maroon. For sure they'll be the talk of the town.

Taken from the Sunday Mail