Foulkes rubbishes match fix claim

"The genesis of the concern that Romanov had was after the 1-1 draw at Celtic Park in October," said Foulkes.

"Romanov was convinced that the result had somehow been contrived and was suspicious. But it was just so fantastic and unbelievable.

"He was fuming about it because he believed the match had been fixed."

Romanov later declined an offer from the programme makers to comment on what Foulkes said.

Foulkes resigned from his post shortly after the surprise departure of manager George Burley.

With Hearts top of the SPL table, Burley parted company with the Edinburgh club just seven days after the draw at Celtic Park.

"Irreconcilable differences" with the Tynecastle board was the reason cited for Burley leaving after a 10-game unbeaten league run.

In Romanov's first full season in charge at Hearts, the club went on to finish second in the SPL and win the Scottish Cup.

Graham Rix was brought in to replace Burley and his tenure was also short-lived, with Romanov sacking him after four months.

In the documentary; Romanov: King of Hearts, to be shown on BBC Two Scotland at 2100 BST On Tuesday, the owner claims he wanted to remove Rix earlier than he did.

Romanov was unhappy with stories being leaked to the media about his apparent meddling in team affairs.

Through the Scottish league we can go into Europe and do something meaningful there

Vladimir Romanov

"I gave him (Rix) some advice on how to utilise the players more rationally," Romanov explained. "So that the team could last all season.

"There was an argument and I was rude and I provoked him (Rix).

"I told him that if you lose (against Dundee United in February) you can forget about the head coach job."

That game was subsequently drawn but was followed by a home defeat by Aberdeen.

The unsettled players asked for a meeting with Romanov and persuaded him to stick with Rix for the sake of continuity.

"I told them (the players) I am prepared to wait (to get rid of Rix) but I think it is a mistake," revealed Romanov, who moved to axe Rix in mid-March.

In the documentary, Romanov outlines his reasons for sacking Rix, saying the coach was "too hesitant" and had "not found his style".

He also made a thinly veiled reference to Jim Duffy, who was brought in as a director of football to assist Rix but lasted only a few weeks.

"He (Rix) had some sort of secret advisor and that was having an impact on the team, " added Romanov.

"He wanted an assistant and said it was hard to work with Valdas Ivanauskas. So we let him come forward rather than sitting in a hole like a rat."

Despite a turbulent season behind the scenes at Tynecastle, Romanov has delivered one of the most exciting and successful campaigns the club has ever had.

And the Lithuanian bank-owning, former Soviet submariner aims to build on the early signs of promise.

"I knew I had the knowledge and experience to run a club in Scotland," he said after revealing an earlier thwarted attempt to take over Dundee United.

"And through the Scottish league we can go into Europe and do something meaningful there."

He also talked of ambitious plans to expand Tynecastle stadium and build a hotel and conference centre.

Romanov: King of Hearts will be shown on BBC Two Scotland at 2100 BST on Tuesday, 6 June.

Taken from the BBC