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| 7 | of 013 | |||
Jim Jefferies sacking 'will test the loyalty' of Hearts fans, says former chairman George FoulkesHearts manager Jim Jefferies and his assistant, Billy Brown, were sacked yesterday by Vladimir Romanov, the controversial Kaunas-based Russian businessman whose word is law at Tynecastle. By Ewing Grahame First team coach Gary Locke's position is believed to be under review as well. A new manager, believed to be former Sporting Lisbon coach Paulo Sergio, will be appointed today. The decision, coming just three days before the second leg of a Europa League qualifying round against Hungarian opponents Paks, astonished people both inside and outside the club. It also came on the day that it emerged Romanov had relocated Hearts' paedophile defender Craig Thomson to Lithuania, where he will be employed by FBK Kaunas, another club in which Romanov enjoys a controlling interest. "Jim Jefferies has been removed as manager, and has been offered a director of football role which he is currently considering," a Hearts spokesman confirmed. Baron Foulkes of Cumnock, better known as George Foulkes, is a former Hearts chairman and was partially responsible for paving the way for Romanov to assume ownership in 2004. Foulkes, 69, was a Labour MP at Westminster for 26 years, sat in the Scottish Parliament until May and is currently a member of the House of Lords but even his extensive experience of the murky world of politics left him unprepared for the knee-jerk ruthlessness of Romanov. The constant interference, not only in player acquisition but also in team selection – last year Jefferies was handicapped by not being allowed to field goalkeeper Marian Kello or defender Marius Zaliukas while they were in dispute with the owner – undermines his managers who nonetheless pay the ultimate price when he fails at Fantasy Football. Jefferies, 60, made over 300 appearances for Hearts between 1971-81, returning as manager in 1995. He then ended a trophy drought which had lasted for 36 years by leading his team to victory over Rangers in the 1998 Scottish Cup final. He left two years later to take over at Bradford City when they were still in England's top flight and then spent seven years with Kilmarnock before returning to Tynecastle in January 2010. Last season Hearts finished third but Romanov made a rare appearance at the stadium on Sunday when Dundee United left the capital with a 1-0 victory. Jefferies had won only one of his last 15 games and Romanov reacted. "I was shocked at the decision and also the timing of it," Foulkes said. "However, in some ways we've come to expect the unexpected from Romanov. Hearts fans have got used to this kind of thing. Many people say that we have the most loyal support in the country and you'd need to be loyal when Romanov is making these decisions. I'm sure they will turn out and back the team on Thursday. "He's appointed each of the managers from George Burley onwards – he made the ultimate decision on everyone right through to Jim Jefferies and he hasn't kept any of them for any length of time. This, though, is the sacking which will cause the most upset among the support and test their loyalty to Romanov. "We all recall Jim's previous spell in charge with satisfaction so there will be a lot of emotion surrounding his departure. "There are, strangely enough, still some supporters who back Romanov 100 per cent but, having brought him in, I'm more like 50-50. "I give him credit for the fact that we remain a going concern and that we're still playing at Tynecastle but his unpredictability shocks me as much as it does anyone else." Foulkes, who resigned as chairman in 2005 in protest at the sacking of manager George Burley and chief executive Phil Anderton, also revealed that the most recent management team have had to suffer in silence while the absentee owner pulled the strings and is concerned Romanov's decision making. "You do wonder exactly what he's looking for in a manager," he said. "Last season he was hardly there – he was at three games, if that – so this came out of the blue. "I don't know where he gets his information from about what's happening at Tynecastle but I suspect that even his closest confidantes here like Sergei Fedotovas weren't expecting this. There was no indication. "Now if he can come up with an appointment who is widely acknowledged as a great manager Romanov will be a hero but we've said this before and it hasn't happened yet. "Jim and Billy have had to swallow an awful lot from him over a period of time. I know they've had to bite their tongues regularly. "As for offering Jim a director of football role, that's just ridiculous. The signings he made over the summer were excellent. "What more can you ask of a manager? Jim got rid of Hearts' most expensive players and then brought in others who did better and who cost next to nothing. This is a very sad day." Hearts dire run since April April 3 Hibernian 2-2 Hearts D Record: P11 W0 D7 L4 Managers under Romanov George Burley June 30- Oct 21, 2005  Taken from telegraph.co.uk |
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