TROPHY TARGET

VLADIMIR ROMANOV last night claimed Hearts can still win trophies this season - despite failing to land the two World Cup stars he targeted.

The Jambos tied up Czech striker Roman Bednar on a new four-year deal but the big-name signings fans he'd hoped for failed to materialise.

Club owner Romanov had revealed he was trying to land two World Cup stars but last night said: "We didn't manage to buy them by the time the transfer window closed.

"We were trying but it didn't happen. But it doesn't mean we are going to be less strong this season.

We've brought in a lot of new players in the last couple of months.

"The fans should remain upbeat. I am sure we are going to be fine this season in the race for trophies."

And he did not rule out returning to the transfer market in January.

Meanwhile, Jambos boss Valdas Ivanauskas last night revealed Julien Brellier was walloped with a fine for wearing earrings.

Ivanauskas admitted for the first time the French midfielder was hit in the pocket as he conceded his team are still way short of Champions League quality.

Hearts were dumped out in the third qualifying round by AEK Athens on a 5-1 aggregate scoreline.

But they did not help their cause in last week's second leg in Greece when they finished with nine men after Brellier and Neil McCann were dismissed.

Brellier walked in the 3-0 defeat for two yellow cards, including one for wearing bling, and Ivanauskas conceded his star man was at fault, although he still lambasted referee Yuri Baskakov.

Ivanauskas said: "The ref was a joke. Both sendingsoff were unbelievable, including the one where Brellier was booked for wearing an earring.

"It's funny how Baskakov had been previously banned by the Russian FA yet he was allowed to take charge of suchan important game.

"But we know wearing jewellery on the pitch is forbidden and I don't want to experience anything like that ever again. Brellier has already been given a hefty fine.

"We beat Inverness 4-1 last weekend and I was very relieved for two reasons - 12 of my players are off on national duty and it was psychologically important to go off into the break on the back of a win.

"Besides, we'd suffered back-to-back losses against Rangers and AEK.

We needed to take three points and we got them in convincing style."

Ivanauskas spoke out in German sports magazine Kicker. He is still rated highly in the country after spending five years with Hamburg in the nineties.

And he admitted his team still have work to do if they want to dine at the top table of European football.

He said: "We lack international experience. We have a good squad, with potential and solid team spirit.

"But it's not yet good enough to pull off a major coup in the Champions League. We need more experienced players and more quality to do so.

"It is extremely difficult for us to stand up to clubs like Celtic and Rangers. But people are starting to take notice of us."

Ivanauskas again insisted there are no problems working for Romanov.

He added: "I have control of all footballing matters at the club. I've known my boss for three years. He can be a tough guy at times but there are no problems between us."

Taken from the Daily Record