Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov tells players: You must win the SPL under new boss Paulo Sergio

Aug 4 2011 By Anthony Haggerty

VLADIMIR ROMANOV last night branded his critics fools as he demanded Hearts land the SPL title.

Skipper Marius Zaliukas revealed the club owner has ordered his stars to deliver the championship under new boss Paulo Sergio.

Ahead of tonight's Europa League crunch against Paksi Romanov dismissed fans and media who questioned his decision to axe Jim Jefferies as idiots.

He said: "Judging by the pre-planned squeals the media monkeys are making, Hearts have hit the point with the move.

"I believe that with only one competitive win in 15 games, only fools and idiots would not raise questions and suspicions.

"I now understand why Scotland is in 61st place in FIFA rankings behind such poor football countries like Lithuania, Albania and Gabon."

But that wasn't the only stunner at Tynecastle on the day new boss Sergio was unveiled. Just hours into the job the Portuguese learned he has to end the Old Firm SPL dominance.

Zaliukas said: "Vladimir Romanov held a meeting with the players on Monday and he told us he wants to win the SPL championship and that he was disappointed with results last season."

But Sergio insisted he feels no pressure. He said: "When you look so far you forget to be happy today.

"Let's live a day at a time. Each day we get up in the morning I want to be the most happy person today. And tomorrow, we will think.

"But today it's my approach to be 100 per cent focused on our goals. That's the way I live."

When pressed on Romanov's axe-wielding history, Sergio said: "I wasn't here in the past. I don't think about that. I'm going to work every day with a big motivation and to concentrate on my job.

"The guys with the power make those decisions. When the day arrives they are not satisfied with my job, okay, I pack my bag and I go elsewhere."

Taken from the Daily Record