Romanov makes conspiracy claims

Romanov used the club's Scottish Cup victory celebrations to fire another broadside at the game's "parasites".

"In my worst nightmare I never saw a season like that. I built the team to win the championship," he said.

"But I didn't expect the systematic resistance from the whole surroundings. I didn't expect to be hit by different organisations, especially referees."

It is not the first time Romanov has attacked the various institutions in Scottish football, with the media and agents his favourite targets.

"There are parasites in football who just know one word - money. My goal next season is to make sure the parasites don't feed from this club," he added.

"But I am ready. I will sew up my pockets, so nobody can take any money from me and I can concentrate spending it on the team."

Andy Webster was missing from the Tynecastle celebrations, having been dropped from the team after refusing to sign a new contract.

"I don't know where Webster is - you should ask his agent," added Romanov.

"Too often agents make decisions for players, when to play and when not to play."

On the future of interim head coach Valdas Ivanauskas, who took over from the sacked Graham Rix in March he said: "If I say that I am keeping him you will say that he is a bad coach.

"If I fire him you will say that he is a good coach - so it doesn't matter what I do.

"It's difficult to know who you want as a coach - I think you want Rix back! But time will tell."

Taken from the BBC