Defiant ex-Hearts boss Csaba Laszlo paid the price for being 'nobody's puppet'

Published Date: 30 January 2010
By BARRY ANDERSON
THE marriage between Csaba Laszlo and Hearts lasted 18 months, but divorce has been on the cards for some time.

A fractious relationship with Vladimir Romanov and disagreements with sport director Alexandr Metlitski and youth academy director John Murray – a man held in the highest regard by Romanov – helped engineer the Hungarian's downfall. The timing of his departure was not so predictable, however.

Laszlo was succeeded by Jim Jefferies yesterday, just over a year and a half into his three-year Hearts contract and four days before the club's biggest match of the season in the Co-operative Cup semi-final.

He had become increasingly frustrated this season due to several internal issues, voicing his opinions both privately and publicly. In doing so, he tested the patience of Romanov and his trusted conglomerate of comrades. Yesterday afternoon, they decided to act.

Sergejus Fedotovas, a club director, flew to Edinburgh and called Laszlo to a mid-afternoon meeting where he was summarily dismissed. The parting was amicable and Laszlo proceeded to say his farewells to club staff before leaving for the final time.

Fedotovas informed him that he had disrespected the playing staff by publicly discussing potential signing targets and by touting himself for other jobs. He had openly discussed his candidature for managerials roles with Celtic, Scotland, Liverpool and Manchester United amongst others.

Laszlo, though, felt let down by Romanov and his directors after being given assurances that quality players would be recruited to replenish his depleted squad. For the entirety of his reign he craved a striker worthy of the name, yet none arrived.

Established mainstays like Christos Karipidis, Bruno Aguiar and Robbie Neilson were allowed to leave on freedom of contract. Laszlo sought replacements, but signing the likes of Suso Santana and even Ismael Bouzid did not properly compensate.

Romanov thrust David Witteveen upon Hearts last summer from the amateur ranks of Austrian football, apparently refusing to sanction the recruitment of any of his manager's striking targets.

This bred discontent and, when Romanov appointed Metlitski as sport director last month, it seemed only a matter of time before Laszlo's fate would be sealed.

The Belarussian was intended to act as a buffer between owner and manager but he and Laszlo disagreed on several issues. One exchange involved Jose Goncalves, the Portuguese defender whom the Hearts hierarchy believed should not play as he stalled over new contract talks.

After selecting Goncalves against Motherwell on 30 December, Laszlo was informed by Metlitski that he had "disobeyed Mr Romanov's orders". Laszlo's reply was to state that he would be "nobody's puppet".

Such gumption appears to have cost him his job but many players in the Riccarton dressing room will be sad to see the amiable Hungarian depart. "I'd like to think Csaba Laszlo will go on and have a successful career," said Michael Stewart, the Hearts captain.

"Hopefully he will get back into football as soon as possible and I've no doubt that, wherever he goes, he will be successful.

"Whenever these things happen there is always an element of surprise, although when you take a moment to yourself nothing really does surprise you in football. Things happen like that, it has been very quick and we just have to focus on the upcoming games now.

I've been in football long enough to know that opinions are divided, no matter what the subject is, so I'm sure it will be similar with this. I'm sure a vast majority of people will be happy to see the managerial position filled quickly with a big name and a good manager with a good track record like Jim Jefferies.

"It's no secret I got on extremely well with Csaba Laszlo. I've got a lot of time for him. What has happened isn't going to change that so I'll speak with him over the next few days. But I won't let that detract from what I've got to do here at the club."

Jefferies met the Hearts squad at Tynecastle just before 7.00pm last night before addressing the media and formally beginning his second spell as manager. Supporters are guaranteed to welcome his return ten years after he left the club he supported as a child.

"I think most Hearts supporters will be quite pleased that Jim Jefferies, who has a wonderful record at Tynecastle, is back in," said Derek Watson, chairman of the Hearts Supporters' Trust.

"It's a good long-term solution. I think it shows Mr Romanov has faith in the traditions of the club. Jim is a popular choice and we wish him well.

"I was very surprised at the timing of Csaba Laszlo's departure. Some fans were critical of him but I think the majority were behind him especially since we started to climb the league.

A few of the things he said this season got me thinking. The way things have gone in the past, he seemed to be inviting something to happen in some way.

"I don't think he was trying to work his ticket but the timing is surprising. It's two days before the end of the transfer window and we have a cup semi-final on Tuesday. It's very difficult to know how much control he's had on the signing of players.

"I think his record in achieving third place last year and steering us away from the relegation zone this year has been good. There are a lot of positives. George Burley has the game-by-game best record of all the managers to work under Romanov, but Csaba had a fair amount of time there and I think his influence on the club has been very positive."

Taken from the Scotsman