GEORGE THINKS WIN WILL PROVE VLAD ISN'T MAD

FORMER Hearts chairman George Foulkes insists if the Jambos lift the Scottish Cup this afternoon it will turn a tumultuous season into the best he's ever witnessed at Tynecastle.

The Labour politician, now sitting in the House of Lords after a quarter of a century in the Commons, had to use all his diplomatic skills during his 18-month reign in Gorgie as he eased the transition from Chris Robinson to Vladimir Romanov.

Foulkes played a key role in preventing the club selling Tynecastle and moving to Murrayfield and was an unwavering supporter of Romanov as he sought to unite the Hearts "family".

However, he was then turned on in October at the climax of a dramatic nine days in which manager George Burley and chief executive Phil Anderton were sacked and Foulkes was surprisingly removed by the Romanov regime.

Foulkes accused Romanov of "acting like a megalomaniac" and claimed he regretted bringing him to to the club.

However, his rage has since cooled and following the club's qualification for the Champions League last week he paid Romanov a back-handed compliment - admitting ruthlessness can breed success.

Foulkes said: "To get into the Champions League this season is absolutely remarkable and given the tumultuous events makes it even more remarkable.

"Credit must go to the players - particularly the captain Steven Pressley who has been a rock and has been a constant. He has kept the ship on course and he deserves all the credit for that.

"We gave notice at the start of the season we would challenge Celtic and Rangers and their duopoly and we have done that effectively.

"Now, if we win this game, and it's a very big if because we must not assume, then it will be the most successful season Hearts have had in all the years I've followed them."

Along with Pressley and coach John McGlynn, Foulkes believes the other constant of current head coach Valdas Ivanauskas deserves high praise for his contribution to the success.

He added: "I have great respect for Valdas, alongside Elvis and John McGlynn. He has been about for the whole of the season.

"I remember going to a training session and he was there with McGlynn and George Burley.

"He has worked away quietly in the background but he deserves great credit for what he has done."