LEE IS SO VLAD HE IS OUT OF JAMBOS

FORMER Hearts midfielder Lee Johnson last night fired a blast at Vladimir Romanov and claimed not even Diego Maradona would have got a game at Tynecastle.

Johnson was a surprise £60,000 buy from Yeovil in January by then boss Graham Rix.

But he played only five games and was quickly frozen out when Rix was sacked.

Johnson this week clinched a two-year deal with English League One outfit Bristol City to link up with a side bossed by his dad Gary.

But he believes he never stood a chance at Hearts as owner Romanov never rated him.

The controversial Lithuanian sacked Rix after only five months because of his poor signings.

And Johnson believes Romanov would not allow Rix's buys anywhere near the first team.

Johnson, 25, said: "I think the situation at Hearts is unique and I will leave you to speculate about that.

"I think if I was Maradona I wasn't going to play at Hearts.

"I was playing with a club at Champions League level and, to be honest, I felt I was good enough to play in the team but for whatever reason I didn't."

Asked if he would have played had Rix remained in charge Johnson said: "It depends if he was picking the team or not."

Now the midfielder hopes to rebuild his career under the guidance of his dad.

But he knows he must prove to the Bristol fans that he is in the first team on merit.

He added: "I would have walked here six or seven weeks ago if it hadn't been for my old man.

"That's no disrespect to him because he is a great coach but I know what it was like.

"It is always going to be an issue - no doubt about it - but I spoke to the chairman and he convinced me this was the place for me to be."

Taken from the Daily Record