IF I DIDN'T HAVE CONFIDENCE TO DO THE JOB I'D SAY THANK YOU AND GOODBYE

VLADIMIR ROMANOV arrived at Tynecastle yesterday morning to find an angry mob of fans stretched along Gorgie Road demanding answers.

Thankfully for him, they were Scotland fans calling for an explanation from police about the distribution of tickets for the European Championship game against France.

They had queued outside Hearts' ground from the early hours, only to be turned away without gold-dust briefs when they sold out in minutes.

It is likely to be the last time tickets for a Euro game are passing through the hands of Jambos administrative staff this season after events at Murrayfield 12 hours earlier.

The tame surrender of Hearts to Sparta Prague as they went down 2-0 in the first leg of their first round UEFA Cup tie is likely to see them exit their second Euro competition in a month.

The return in the Czech Republic is likely to be a formality but Romanov's ongoing relationship with the fans is becoming less straightforward.

He turned up for a pre-arranged meeting with representatives of various supporters' groups for a couple of hours of talks that were described as "amicable".

The previous night, thousands of fans in the impressive crowd of over 27,000 had streamed for the exits after Sparta went 2-0 up while the majority of those who stayed until the end booed their team off the park.

As Romanov held court in the boardroom yesterday, Ivanauskas sat downstairs in an executive lounge with the media.

He addressed his future ahead of tomorrow's game against Motherwell in the same candid fashion as crisis club Sparta had dismantled his team.

Ivanauskas spoke through an interpreter and for once his poker features were softened by the rare openness of his answers, particularly about his future, insisting he would not quit.

He said: "If I didn't have the self-confidence that I could make Hearts a winning team I'd say thank you and goodbye. The season is long and after a negative always comes a positive.

"I've chosen this profession and I love this club. The situation is difficult but this is what I've chosen and what I love, although there's no doubt this is a challenging time for me.

"There's no argument from me about the legitimacy of questions about my future - you have freedom of speech to ask such questions.

"I respect the media very much and I'm trying to give as much information as possible but you will understand there are internal issues, in the dressing room for example, that are not for public discussion."

There is the rub. Questions about his future remain valid, particularly after failing to lead Hearts to the Champions League, one of the objectives set by Romanov when he gave his compatriot the job.

But there are too many other intriguing issues on which Ivanauskas either does not have full control or is clearly a peripheral figure in the decision-making process.

Team morale, which has kept the players bonded tightly since the fans first turned on former chief executive Chris Robinson, threatens to come unstuck and the zip that characterised Hearts last season has gone.

Skipper Steven Pressley has been a titan on and off the pitch but even he is beginning to look weary.

The team's lack of discipline is a worrying sign of discord and there are too many injuries which suggests, perhaps, the first team squad are not being given enough time to rest their bodies between matches.

Romanov's micro-management isn't working, his summer signings on the cheap have been a disaster and his role in team selection compromises his manager at every turn.

Ivanauskas said: "Many issues that have an effect on the form of players.

The players know themselves what they are but the list is very long and there is no sense going through it.

"We must get ready for Motherwell on Sunday and maybe it's no bad thing this game is only three days after our European match. The team must show to themselves and prove to fans that Hearts are still to be respected."

Asked if he was disappointed more quality did not arrive in the summer, he said: "Every football club faces this question. I'm sure if all our players are in good physical condition and available to play then Hearts have a high quality team already.

"From a football perspective it's probably right to say the performance against Sparta was one of the worst but there are also other areas around football which also have an effect but I don't want to mention them.

"Football is not just about playing beautifully - there is more to it than that."

Asked if he found the politics tiring he said: "That's an interesting question but I don't want to comment."

The management structure doesn't only involve Romanov but a tier between the owner and football department.

Eduard Malofeev and Anatoli Korobochka are shadowy figures around Tynecastle.

"They are described as football consultants but have never publicly explained their role and no one is sure what they do - even, it appears, Ivanauskas.

He said: "In the usual way and manner, the team is discussed, information about players is exchanged and so is advice."

Asked if he spoke to them on a daily basis, he cryptically added: "In the modern world there are many kinds of communication and many ways of exchanging information."

Ivanauskas was a granite-tough striker in the former USSR, Germany and Austria and is as guarded on personal issues as many of his generation from the former Soviet bloc.

But he gave a glimpse into his character when asked how he rids himself of stress.

He said: "I do physical workouts in the gym to such an extent that I stop thinking about anything else."

His Charles Atlas physique has probably left him well-equipped to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders but there was a final question.

Soon after he was appointed, Ivanauskas revealed he was on his way for discussions with Romanov about his new contract. Did he sign?

Finally, a smile and a reply in English: "I signed." One year, two years? That smile again: "I signed."

Taken from the Daily Record