WE'D HAVE WON THE LEAGUE IF CELTS HAD STAYED IN EUROPE

VLADIMIR ROMANOV'S right-hand man reckons Hearts would have won the SPL this season if Celtic had enjoyed a decent run in Europe.

But Liutauras Varanavicius, president of the Lithuanian Football Federation, has warned any doubters his best pal is only getting started in his grand plans for Gorgie.

He revealed Romanov won't rest until he makes the Jambos title winners - and regular competitors in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Varanavicius, who is also chairman of Ukio Bankas, spoke to the Scottish press via a conference call from Vilnius yesterday. In a wide-ranging interview he revealed the Tartan Army have been offered 2400 tickets for the Euro qualifier in September in Kaunas.

He also hinted Jambos stand-in boss Valdas Ivanauskas could be forced to step down as No.2 of the Lithuania national team if he is handed the Tynecastle job permanently.

But it was the insight offered by Varanavicius on the desire of Romanov to deliver success that was most eye-opening.

Varanavicius stepped down from his position as non-executive director at Hearts in February but remains very close to Romanov.

He said: "Success at Hearts is only just beginning because Romanov has bigger ambitions and targets than those already achieved.

"The success the club enjoyed this season only proves to those who didn't already know that Romanov always delivers on what he says. At the beginning of the season I don't believe Rangers and Celtic were ready for the challenge Hearts were about to pose.

"If Celtic had stayed in the Champions League longer I feel Hearts would have become league winners or, at least, the gap between first and second would have been closer.

"However, when Celtic dropped out of the Champions League it allowed them to concentrate on the championship and they had a very good second half of the season.

"The league title is the target for Hearts next season - according to Mr Romanov.

"His ultimate goal is to always have his team playing at the top level of the Champions League - certainly, a place in the last 16 will be a consistent target.

"Remember, this is only the first year of his investment. I've known Romanov 12 years and he will not be judging anything at this moment, it will come in four or five years.

"When he takes on a project he never leaves it. I've known people in the past who have worked with him and urged him to withdraw from certain projects, but he always continues and makes them a success."

Varanavicius, an influential member of several highprofile UEFA committees, insists there is no conflict between Hearts and FBK Kaunas appearing in Europe next season.

He reckons the Jambos can reach the Champions League proper but if they drop into the UEFA Cup with Lithuanian representatives Kaunas he sees nothing in the rules to prevent two of Romanov's football interests turning out in the same competition.

However, Varanavicius admitted there would be a conflict of interest if Ivanauskas was handed the job as successor to Graham Rix permanently.

He said: "We're very open to continue to work with Valdas, but it's a major issue. We only have three games to play this year but next year it will be nine and it was difficult for Valdas to come here in April for a couple of friendlies.

"Ivanauskas has proved he can withstand a challenge but it's up to Romanov to decide if he gets the job at Hearts."

Varanavicius revealed the SFA asked for 4000 tickets for the Euro qualifier in Kaunas but must settle for less. He said: "The stadium capacity is 8300 and we've told the SFA we can allocate 2400 to Scotland fans."

Mind you, it isn't so much the opposition on the field that should trouble the Tartan Army as the pre-match entertainment lined up off it.

Varanavicius confirmed his country's Eurovision Song Contest entrants, LT United, are set to sing their awful anthem We Are The Winners. He said: "They get a lot of attention here because they sing football themes. Their song may even be a good one for Hearts."

Taken from the Daily Record