SPITTING VLAD

VLADIMIR ROMANOV last night launched a blistering attack on David Taylor after the SFA moved to gag the Hearts owner.

Hampden beaks have closed a loophole that had allowed the Jambos owner to escape punishment for a series of high-profile outbursts.

Romanov has infuriated the authorities with a series of explosive comments on everything from referees' conspiracies to the parasites he claimed were destroying his club.

And he is now set to face his first SFA probe with his latest comments likely to be reported to the general purposes committee.

He has previously been untouchable because he officially holds no position of power at Tynecastle, despite being the club's majority shareholder.

An SFA egm earlier this week reined him in, without naming him, by changing the rules so club owners can now be carpeted for their comments, even if they're not directors of their clubs. Now Romanov has taken his anger out on chief executive Taylor with an outrageous blast as he repeated his claims officials have it in for Hearts.

In a wide-ranging statement he made reference to the probe into Rudi Skacel's spitting, Paul Hartley's recent suspension and the decision to red card Takis Fyssas against Celtic on New Year's Day, later rescinded on appeal.

In a bizarre attack, Romanov asked Taylor: "Do the new regulations mean I'll need to keep silent until the end of my life?

"Or will this rule only apply while you are in your post? I hope you won't leave your position for another 80 years because, without you, there's no one to think up such ingenious regulations.

"In case I do get fined for what I say I'd like to know how you are going to spend the money.

"If it goes to pay bonuses to the referees then which ones - those who just happen to be Celtic fans or those who monitor the direction of Skacel's spitting?

"Or should we establish some foundation to conduct spitting contests? You have already accumulated quite an experience in this field so I suggest you become the general director of this new Spitting Federation. I guarantee there will be not a word of criticism from me.

"I'm even prepared to forget that you never apologised after an 'independent from you' referee wrongly sent off Fyssas.

"Instead of apologising you disqualified key Hearts player Hartley for three games before decisive matches for the SPL.

"Maybe you just forget that he's the real pride of the Scottish national team, unlike you or me.

"Well, I understand that one's own interests are above everything else."

SFA spokesman Andy Mitchell admitted he was taken aback by Romanov's attack on Taylor. Hearts were one of the clubs which approved the new ruling and it was drawn up by the SFA's board of directors, which includes Jambos operations director Campbell Ogilvie.

Mitchell said: "We are surprised to hear of these comments as the change to our articles of association was agreed unanimously by all clubs at our agm on Wednesday.

"In addition, David Taylor explained that the new rule was not aimed at one individual.

"Furthermore, the proposal was put forward by the board of directors of the SFA, not by the chief executive himself."

Taken from the Daily Record