Romanov defends director of sport appointment

HEARTS owner Vladimir Romanov last night denied there was any hidden agenda in bringing in Russian Anatoli Korobochka as director of sport at Tynecastle.

Eduard Malofeev, former coach of the Soviet Union, who was announced as director of sport in late June, remains at the club in an active role as consultant.

Romanov also denied that the development in any way undermined head coach Valdas Ivanauskas or Malofeev.

"Korobochka is the director of sport, Malofeev is the consultant and Valdas is head coach," he said. "All three of them have my full support. Korobochka came on board at the beginning of August. His duties are to work with the coaches of the younger players, to co-operate with the academy.

"Malofeev is consulting on creating training programmes for the pre-season and season.

"But actually it is all three who are working together on this programme - and then we have the chance to compare these programmes and discuss them, getting the best for the club.

"This is how we are trying to work now. There is no hidden agenda."

Taken from the Scotsman