Hearts would be lost without the unpredictable Vladimir Romanov

The sacking of Jim Jefferies was questionable and ill-timed but the Hearts owner has kept the club alive

Ewan Murray
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 2 August 2011 17.35 BST

If Hearts – as they should – progress to the play‑off round of the Europa League by defeating the Hungarians of Paks on Thursday evening, their supporters will bounce out of Tynecastle in jubilant mood. And they would not have turned up at the ground armed with pitchforks. In the event that Hearts are eliminated, disquiet from the stands will be only slightly more intense than if Jim Jefferies was still the manager.

Hearts' greatest player, Willie Bauld, refused to set foot inside Tynecastle for years after being charged for the matchball for his testimonial game. Jim Cruickshank, their legendary goalkeeper, did not enter the ground at all after walking out in 1977 amid similarly poor treatment. Neither matter stopped fans from following their team.

The late, great Bob Crampsey interrupted a BBC Radio Scotland debate about the apparently terrible state of Hearts in a not-too-distant age to remark that, for all these apparent shortcomings, so many people manage to retain a strong affection for the men in maroon. Crampsey's counterpoint to loud sentiment is as pertinent now as it was back then.

Vladimir Romanov's decision to remove Jefferies on Monday has begun the latest barrage of abuse towards the Lithuanian owner about his trigger-happy ways. Once again that viewpoint is not fully representative of the people who actually pay to watch Hearts week on week.

The majority are probably perplexed by the Jefferies sacking but a meaningful, game-attending group have other thoughts. As "Mad Vlad's" decisions go, this is not even comparable to the one which saw George Burley jettisoned in 2006.

When Romanov does something which the Scottish mainstream disagrees with, the language used is more exaggerated than is the case for discussion about other clubs. Routinely, this is hidden under the dubious guise of onlookers "wanting the best for Scottish football".

When Romanov sacks a manager, commentators always include caretakers in the tally of those who have taken charge of Hearts since the change of ownership 2004.

This time the natural reaction was to defend a well-liked and respected Scottish manager. Lost in the melee is that Jefferies has lasted at least six months longer than some publicly declared he would.

Jefferies is a fine man, a fine manager and someone who cares for Hearts as much as any of those who will attend Thursday's game. The 60-year-old is also afforded exalted status in one half of Edinburgh after ending Hearts' 36-year run without a trophy in 1998.

The decision to dispense with his services is questionable and the timing even more so. Romanov's sanctioning of the signing of four players over the close season belies the theory that Jefferies's card had been marked for a while. Yet the manager's replacement, Paulo Sergio, knew enough about the Hearts squad when meeting them for the first time on Tuesday to suggest his arrival in Edinburgh was not agreed hours or days ago.

Hints of what may lie ahead appeared in May. At that stage, Romanov hit out about a "weak" end to last season. He had a case; Hearts claimed third place but displayed poor form after January, which ensured they only edged out Dundee United – whose resources they dwarf – from an earlier position of 23 points clear.

Today Hearts' SPL record shows one win in 14 games. It is harsh to merge seasons when considering such statistics but that has not stopped other managers in Scotland – the former Hibernian boss John Hughes among them – from being judged in the same context. Jefferies's best defence involves what restrictions were placed on him with regards to team selection.

There was a similar outcry to now when his first Hearts tenure was ended by an unpopular chief executive, Chris Robinson, a decade ago. Days before that Hearts defeated Aberdeen 3-0; in previous matches they had suffered heavy home defeats by Celtic and St Johnstone, and also suffered a 6-2 thumping at Hibs.

Back then, a scratch of the surface would reveal supporters who were not reduced to tears by the change. The recurring theme is concern regarding the overall running of the club – in 2001 under Robinson, in 2011 by Romanov.

The Lithuanian's regular blasting of all things Scottish football does not sit well with his many detractors. The veil of secrecy surrounding events at Tynecastle is of frustration to others. Still, none of those who take gratuitous pops at Romanov's regime have the knowledge or bravery to supply back-up evidence of what his endgame or overriding motivation may be.

The blunt truth is that, before the tycoon's arrival in Edinburgh, Hearts were financially kaput but for an utterly flawed plan to relocate to Murrayfield. If the doors are closed at Tynecastle tomorrow, Hearts would have survived for seven years more than they were entitled to do. Within that time they have claimed another Scottish Cup, finished second in the league and competed regularly in Europe.

Hearts as a business, at Tynecastle and in their present state, would be unsustainable without the support of the Ukio Bankas Investment Group; the only, not just the best, reply to questions as to why supporters do not protest en masse.

Hibs have had five managers in as many years, not including caretakers. Dundee United dispensed with coaching staff like they were going out of fashion before Craig Levein arrived in 2006. Neither club received the vitriol which is flung Hearts' way.

Proper dialogue and debate about Romanov's intentions and actions is welcome. Scrutiny should be encouraged. The predictable squealing and hot-headed analysis which has followed the Jefferies departure is a waste of time.

Taken from the Guardian/Observer