Looking back at a year of controversy and conflict

JUNE

"It's great news. One of the reasons I came to Hearts was after going to Lithuania to speak to Mr Romanov."

George Burley on being appointed Hearts head coach
JULY

"We are looking forward to seeing the season tickets sales escalate rapidly over the next few days. Some people have written to me saying that as soon Chris leaves they will take up season tickets with the club."

George Foulkes on the resignation of Hearts supporters' hate figure Chris Robinson from the Tynecastle board

"I have a dream to build the most beautiful stadium in the world in Edinburgh and he [Chris Robinson] has a job, not related to football, but related to the land."

Romanov revealing that Robinson is working on the club's stadium plans
AUGUST

"I said when I arrived that I wanted to take the club back into Europe as soon as possible. This year it's going to be a big ask, but we'll give it our best shot. Maybe after two or three years, we can be up there challenging."

Burley plays down take of Hearts immediately threatening the Old Firm's dominance

"I always said that I am enjoying my football here and if the contract was right then I would sign it. Thankfully I have, so I can concentrate on my football."

Paul Hartley on signing a new deal

"There will be no more cut-price sales at Tynecastle."

George Foulkes bigs-up Hartley's contract extension, which comes the week Euro 2004 winner Takis Fyssas is brought to the club

"I want my coaches to take responsibility when they are insisting on expensive foreign players."

Vladimir Romanov explains to an interviewer why he has just barked down the phone to his manager that he must "sign a piece of paper saying he thinks Julien Brellier is a player we need in the team and why"

"It is not ideal for me, but that is the situation and, if Mr Romanov hadn't been involved with this club, you wouldn't have the side we have at the moment. There have been a number of players I wanted to bring in, which hasn't happened and he has looked for alternative ones. I have spoken to Mr Romanov and I have never fallen out with him. It is just that he has different thoughts from me in terms of running a club."

George Burley admitting that four of Hearts' nine summer signings were Romanov's doing
SEPTEMBER

"If we finish third it will be a tremendous season"

George Burley refuses to get carried away by seven straight league wins

"The players are beginning to believe more and more that we can win the SPL and that Hearts can go far."

Julien Brellier takes a different line from the Hearts manager

"The match could have been better but the important thing was the result. It was a great victory for us and I have no doubt we can now stay at the top of the league."

Romanov sets his sights after a 1-0 win over Rangers that marks Hearts' first 100% record over the first eight games of a league season since 1914-15
OCTOBER

"The red tops tend to blow things out of proportion but they will end up red in the face. There is no smoke without fire but you cannot throw money at a fantasy. I strive to co-operate with everyone at the club. The reality is that there must always be conflict of opinions in a successful venture. Anyone who says they know best is a fool; you must consult others. The purchase of players must not be in the hands of agents. I have my own intelligence network reviewing the ability of players from as wide afield as Chile to Japan."

Romanov admits relations aren't exactly cordial with Burley, patently too cosy with agents for the owner's liking

"If you are building a house and you want it to stand for 1,000 years, it is sometimes better to build it yourself. As Tsar Peter the Great once said, half of the builders in Russia should be in jail. If it is your house, you need to maintain control over what goes on."

Romanov's response to the suggestion that a club owners who meddles in team affairs is akin to someone who appoints a builder to construct their house then tells them what cement to use

"Our goal has to be champions of Europe. I want us to be at the stage where to do anything else, to come back without the trophy, would be shameful. I'd like to do it quicker but I think we're looking at three years. Nobody believes us. That's fine."

Hearts' heady league form intoxicates Romanov

"This is one of the most significant developments in the history of the football club. It is the biggest thing in ownership terms since Wallace Mercer sold out to Chris Robinson and Leslie Deans. This is one of the greatest days for Hearts. We are seeing great success on the field, we have taken a number of important decisions such as staying at Tynecastle and the appointment of George Burley. Today, with Vladimir Romanov as principal shareholder indicating he would like to become the owner is the best news. It is our aim to end the duopoly enjoyed by the Old Firm."

Foulkes trumpets a bright future for Hearts as Romanov becomes majority shareholders

"I'm not happy at having to make this statement but there is no point looking to the past. We will take time to recruit a top-class manager."

Foulkes, the next day, announcing the club had parted company with George Burley; a decision "mutually agreed" after "irreconcilable differences" that had not prevented the club leading the Premierleague table with eight wins and two draws from their first ten games

"I was unhappy last week about the sacking of George Burley but we got bounced into it and we had to go along with it. And this weekend we get another situation where we've had the Lithuanians trying to twist my arm into going along with the sacking of Phil Anderton. I just don't want to be part of that. I just find the ruthlessness unacceptable. Romanov is behaving like a dictator. I brought him in and very much regret that now. Phil Anderton has only been there six months and has done a very good job. Now that he [Romanov] is the majority shareholder he seems to be acting like a megalomaniac. I hope that someone else in the longer term might come in and take over."

Foulkes fulminates after stepping down as Hearts chairman in protest at Anderton's axeing

"We talked about Mr Romanov arriving like a knight in shining armour last season when we thought Tynecastle was going to be sold. But we now need him to explain what is going on. We'd had record ticket sales, were unbeaten in 12 games before Saturday and the club was being marketed like never before. So when Mr Romanov says the chief executive had not delivered what was expected, what I would like to know is - what was expected?"

Secretary of the Federation of Hearts Supporters Clubs, John Borthwick expresses bemusement at Anderton's removal

"I'm shocked and stunned and at the moment. It's hard to take in. Phil seemed to be the one who was trying to get a new manager in. That's what we were led to believe he was doing. But where does that leave us now?"

Temporary head coach John McGlynn echoes Borthwick on the chucked-out chief executive
NOVEMBER

"The future is bright under Vladimir Romanov. The club has strong leadership and we are fortunate to have a man like Vladimir Romanov. He is not the complete autocrat that some have suggested. He's a strong man, a strong leader because you don't get to the top in business by being weak-willed."

Former chairman Leslie Deans explains why he is happy to sell his shares to Romanov as the Lithuanian moves toward the 75% holding allowing him to de-list from the stock market

"Seven years ago, I made a mistake and, once I realised, I held my hands up and accepted my punishment. It was a tough time for me and my family, but does it mean I have to be punished for the rest of my life? I have tried hard to rebuild my life and career and want to work hard on building a relationship with Hearts fans."

Graham Rix struggles with the vitriolic reaction his conviction for unlawful sex with a 15-year-old girl causes when he is appointed Hearts head coach

"I can understand the feelings of some Hearts fans. But, in Russia, we have a saying that a man that's beaten by life is worth two that are unbeaten."

Roman Romanov chooses a curious saying to quell supporter revolt over Rix's arrival

"This is not in the short, medium or long-term interests of Hearts and it is very disappointing when you consider that people like Sir Bobby Robson [pictured left], Ottmar Hitzfeld and Claudio Ranieri have all recently been linked with the post. The Hearts fans are very vocal about his conviction. Hearts are trying to promote decent public relations at the club and they should not put themselves in that position."

Hearts Supporters Trust spokesman Martin Laidlaw lays out both the professional and personal objections to Rix from the Tynecastle support

"Graham Rix is a hero."

Romanov defends Rix's appointment in typically contentious fashion
DECEMBER

"You are asking me if I'm under pressure but, because of their great start to the season and finding themselves at the top of the league with an undefeated run, the players are finding there is pressure that goes with that. You would have to speak to players about whether I'm saying or doing the right things. But I think you would find that they can say positive things about the situation."

Rix is forced to defend himself after a defeat at Ibrox leaves him with just one victory from his first five games
JANUARY

"We should invite Celtic to play in the Lithuanian league. To win something there they should bring the three referees we had from our games with Hibs, Rangers and the New Year's Day game."

Romanov cries conspiracy after the red card shown to Takis Fyssas in the defining passage of Celtic's 3-2 Tynecastle win on Ne'erday is rescinded

"All these players wanted to play for us but Mr Romanov deserves a pat on the back. He stuck his neck out and backed me. Myself, [academy director] John Murray, [coach] Valdas [Ivanauskas], Roman [Romanov], Vladimir [have been involved in the signings] - it's like an MCC committee meeting."

Rix explains the recruiting 11 players in the transfer window
FEBRUARY

"Graham told us that he wanted to be straight with us and explain exactly what was going on. He said Mr Romanov had decided on the team and the substitutes and was even calling the shots about who came on and who came off."

An unnamed Hearts players tells what happened inside the dressing room before the 1-1 draw for Dundee United that exposed Romanov's meddling n team selection

"As soon as I walked in to Hearts, if somebody had said, 'you're going to be head coach and Jim Duffy is going to be director of football', I'd have snapped their hand off. It is a great appointment."

Rix on buddy Duffy stepping up from being his coaching help to his superior
MARCH

"When they go off for a run it must be like the start of the Grand National."

Original Romanov coaching casualty John Robertson on the club's Riccarton training complex accommodating 61 players

"It was my mistake to wait too long for Rix to produce better results. The results had not been satisfying the board for some time and the loss of so many points in the league was disappointing. I even suggested we say goodbye to him as head coach earlier but the guys in the team insisted in letting him stay and I followed their wishes. However, I feel I've made a mistake by not acting sooner as we lost 24 points in the league since he took charge, as well as precious time. If we had stuck by him we would have put ourselves in danger of losing our second place position and failing to qualify for the Champions League."

An unrepentant Romanov on Rix's removal after four months and 19 games in charge

"Who are they to lecture us about tactics? What do they know about tactics?"

Jim Duffy bites back after the Romanovs cite weaknesses in the area as a factor in the director of football joining Rix as a former Hearts employee

"Anyone in for this job will need to go in with their eyes open because they're not going to be their own man. They won't be able to sign their own players or pick their own team. They wouldn't be a manager, they would be more like part of the squad. "Anyone wanting that job must have rocks in their head."

Alex Smith, president of the Scottish Managers and Coaches Association, see little to relish for successors to Rix and Duffy
APRIL

"It is probably the highlight of my career."

Hartley reveals how much the hat-trick underpinning Hearts 4-0 derby demolition in the Scottish Cup semi-final means to him

"Today I have seen what I have been dreaming about. They were playing football as I have dreamt it. The fans are the golden fans of the country and I appreciate them more than all the oil and gas of Russia. Glasgow has been the football capital but I will do my best to ensure that Edinburgh takes that crown."

Romanov lets his emotions run riot after the Hampden horsing of Hibs

"I'm angry I haven't played. I don't know why I'm not playing. I asked if it was if it was Valdas' [Ivanauskas] or Vladimir [Romanov]'s decision not to play me and Valdas said it was his. I want to the club to be honest. I know Vladimir said he felt I wasn't one of the best players at Hearts. If he has a problem, he should speak to me about it."

Julien Breiller complains about his treatment by the club's hierarchy

"Has it affected me? Quite a bit. It has genuinely been 24/7 at times. I have never enjoyed my football like I did in the first 14 weeks of the season but the last three months have been draining. It has affected my sleep. I didn't sleep particularly well during the hard times. I have often woken up thinking about the things that have affected me or the club."

Steven Pressley on the perils of being captain, committee leader and counsellor to the Hearts squad
MAY

"I think the Hearts players have handled all the things that have gone on through there this season very well. If I was in their camp, I wouldn't be happy at all. It has been once circus act after another."

Celtic captain Neil Lennon offers his tuppenceworth on the goings-on at Tynecastle on the eve of travelling to Gorgie

"The circus is on track."

Romanov retorts after a 3-0 victory for his team over Celtic cements their second-place status

"It is not the most difficult thing in the world to beat Celtic. I don't think they are our strongest rivals. In Europe, for example, they showed they are quite low."

Romanov conveniently forgets the destination of the title after the aforementioned win

"I am very happy that we have success now because 11 years is too long for no teams to come between Celtic and Rangers."

Fyssas celebrates second spot

"I have been at the club for eight years and waited a long time to experience a night like tonight. I spoke to Mr Romanov 18 months ago and he expressed his dreams for the club and I suppose a lot of supporters were sceptical, but the dream has come true."

Pressley revels in runners-up berth

"Winning the league must be our priority next season."

Hartley looks ahead from current league placings

"They [the club's medical staff] do not take their rings and watches off [to wash

their hands before medical procedures]. I'm looking for a head doctor, an assistant and team of specialists."

Romanov gives a possible explanation for the appearance of a team of Lithuanian alternative therapists at the club

"I like Andy. He is an excellent player and with Steven Pressley we have the best defence in Scotland. Unfortunately in football there are agents, but the most negative influence is the parents - they shouldn't interfere in matters."

Romanov on Webster after the player's refusal to sign a contract extension had led to claim from the owner that the defender could "not be trusted to give 100%"

"I felt at times that my driver back in Kaunas could have done a better job than Rix and Duffy."

Romanov derides the efforts of the dismissed head coach and director of football

"When I took over, the club was ruled by amateurs, there was no control."

Romanov being Romanov
Gretna delight in living the dream
JUNE

"I know the feeling is that everything we're doing is thanks to Brooks' money but eventually there will have to be a bit of realism involved and people will accept that we aren't some flash in the pan."

Manager Rowan Alexander on Gretna's prospects

"We have a belief that we can go into the First Division and, eventually, the SPL. Why not?"

Alexander on the club's ambitions. No mention the of the Scottish or UEFA Cup

"If these people think they can shut me up, they're wrong. They are coming after the wrong person - and they should know that by now."

Owner Brooks Mileson on the threat of SFL expulsion after gifting Berwick fans £10,000
JULY

"You have to have ability to spot the right people and work with them when they're here. The success we've had is all to do with Rowan. During last season I got him and Davie Irons tied up on five-year contracts. They didn't want to do it but I insisted because one day some bugger's going to cotton on that these two are actually pretty good at their jobs."

Mileson on "the gaffer"
AUGUST

"Some people seem to believe we'll come into the Second Division and breeze through it the way we did in the Third. But it's not going to happen. Believe me, we'll win absolutely nothing if we keep on the way we're going. We might have won 5-1 against Forfar at the weekend, but we were sloppy in that game and we carried that sloppiness into the cup-tie."

Alexander after his team beat Albion Rovers 2-1 in the CIS Cup

"We can't lose sight of our main aim, which is promotion, and you can only do that automatically if you finish first. Although it is good to come up against big sides in the cup, we want to play SPL clubs every week."

David Bingham on the 2005/06 season

"A football club with no fans is not a football club."

Mileson on donating £2,000 to the Ayr United Supporters Trust
SEPTEMBER

"These guys are always going to be doing big things, but, once the toy gets a wee bit rusty, they walk away. Brooks Mileson may prove me wrong, but I doubt it."

St Johnstone chairman Geoff Brown on Mileson's long-term commitment
OCTOBER

"This result is massive for us but I'm very aware of the year Morton finished fourth despite having a massive lead at the turn of the year."

Alexander after beating title rivals Morton to move ten points clear
NOVEMBER

"We know bigger clubs are watching the likes of the two Ryans [Baldacchino and McGuffie] and Gavin Skelton, but why would any of our players leave when we are heading to the SPL and eventually we will be in Europe?"

Alexander warns off clubs interested in his players
DECEMBER

"Maybe we will get into Europe on holiday! But seriously, we can only take it one step at a time. It would be great for me to stand here and say 'of course we will, we'll be there in three years' but as I said, our main aim just now is to get out of the Second Division."

Steve Tosh obviously wasn't reckoning on a UEFA Cup place next season
JANUARY

"A lot of people fancy us to do something as we've lost only once in 11 months or so. But people forget there is a big gulf between the First and Second Divisions so it will be a tough tie."

Goalkeeper Alan Main before Gretna put First Division St Johnstone out the cup
FEBRUARY 2006

"I'll hand out roses to the first 200 ladies through the turnstile - but I'll have to be careful because my wife may expect the same thing when I get home! Couples who get married that day will get in free and the first newlyweds will get a honeymoon night at Smith's Hotel."

Mileson's novel approach to Valentine's Day cup replay against Clyde

"It's a dream, Roy of the Rovers stuff. A guy just walked past shouting 'Living the dream' at me. That's what it's all about. It's our motto - it's on our letterheads, it's what we believe in. And it's what we'll be doing at Hampden at the start of April."

Mileson on qualifying for Scottish Cup semi-finals
MARCH

"The phones haven't stopped ringing and we have had e-mails from all over the world. We just had two from Sweden and Norway. We seem to be everyone's second club."

Mileson on cup semi-final ticket rush

"I was asking the manager where the champagne was and he said we had none ordered as we didn't expect to win it this week! Anyway, we'll put that on the back burner now as it's all about getting into the Cup final."

John O'Neil on sober way club clinched the Second Division title
APRIL

"We have arrived. People will have to sit up and take note of us now. We're not even full members of the league yet but we mean business and we're not resting on these achievements. There's more to come. It does not matter what happens now, this achievement is incredible. Just five years ago we were playing in the Unibond League and now we're in the Scottish Cup final. You could not write this story."

Alexander after his side beat Dundee to qualify for the Scottish Cup final

"It is not often I'm gobsmacked but I don't know what to say; it hasn't sunk in. It is unreal, I couldn't have written the story and I'm in it. It's just fun."

Mileson hails the achievement
MAY

"I never decide the players' bonus until the last minute. I'll get up at 5.30 am and feed my animals [Mileson runs an animal sanctuary] and then I'll think about it. The players will have very good incentives, don't worry. It just depends on how daft I am."

Mileson on the players' bonus for winning the cup

"Kenny didn't want an Aston Martin, he wants a Jaguar XCR, which is half the price but my son reckons if I give him it he'll have me certified and put away. I do madcap things for all of the players."

Mileson on his offer to reward Deuchar if the striker netted the Hampden winner

Taken from the Scotsman