Vlad all over

This week the crisis club careered into administration, with Vladimir Romanov — who remains an international fugitive — nowhere to be seen.

The AWOL owner may have turned his back on Tynecastle, leaving the Jambos to fend for themselves, but the banker still has backers who point to two Scottish Cup triumphs.

PR guru Charlie Mann was his closest advisor in the early years of his reign and admits it was a ‘rollercoaster’ ride.

He said: “As Mr Romanov’s PR advisor, someone once said I put out more fires than Red Adair and in those early days it was probably true. It was an absolute rollercoaster. There were rows on a daily basis with people like David Southern, Phil Anderton, George Foulkes and Campbell Ogilvie.

“But it was also a fantastic time for everyone involved.

“He got the football world talking about Hearts — for better and worse.

“When the Romanovs came in the club was £25 million in debt and he leaves it at the same level, having spent £60 million of his own money along the way.

“There were so many highs, things Hearts couldn’t have dreamed of before, but now it’s tinged with sadness and frustration at what might have been.”

Having ‘saved’ Hearts from a move to Murrayfield under Chris Robinson, Romanov vowed to wrestle Scottish football dominance away from the Old Firm before eventually claiming European success.

That dream may have died a death, but there was never a dull moment.

BBC football commentator Mann, speaking exclusively to SunSport, added: “The biggest thing for me is the missed opportunity.

“Right from Day One, Mr Romanov’s ambition was to break up the west coast power base and move it East, to Hearts.

“The reality now is good people losing their jobs through no fault of their own.

“It’s chasing the dream that did the damage. The dream was there for the taking if the right decisions had been made.

“He lost his way dramatically and got caught up in conspiracies that just weren’t there. He thought everyone — the SFA, the referees and the media — was against him.

“If he had concentrated on what he was good at early on, getting the right people in place, we would have seen a challenge to Celtic and Rangers.

“That’s what Scottish football has been crying out for and Hearts came so close.”

George Burley looked to have it cracked in 2005/06 when his team topped the SPL after ten games, only for a row with Romanov to lead to his sudden sacking.

Mann recalled: “George told everyone within the club that we weren’t going to win the league that season.

“He knew he had some very good players through the spine of the team — Craig Gordon, Andy Webster, Steven Pressley and Paul Hartley — who could go to Celtic Park or Ibrox and win if they had to.

“But he didn’t have enough players with that mentality and he proved right. They finished second but for the first ten games they were unbeatable.

“It was a sensational time for everyone involved. For the first time since the Fergie days at Aberdeen, there was a feeling that someone else could win the SPL.”

The wheels came off and never quite fitted back into place, as Hearts chopped and changed managers at an alarming rate.

Romanov did everything but place himself in charge — at least officially — but club insiders would barely have batted an eyelid if he had, given his madcap antics.

Mann added: “It wasn’t all bad. There was Mr Romanov swimming in Loch Ness, or the time he won the Lithuanian version of Strictly Come Dancing.

“I had to hire a kilt specialist and a bagpiper then fly them over there to perform in the competition.

“There are hundreds of stories but one memory that sticks out is driving back to Edinburgh from Inverness, when he made me stop the car on the A9.

“He walked into the nearby field and wanted to light a fire to take in all the scenery and majesty of the Highlands.

“I wasn’t there for his pre-season boxing bout with our striker, Roman Bednar, but I do remember us having to talk him out of a tartan away kit that was inspired by a box of shortbread.

Then there was a trip to the Cavern Club in Liverpool, all because he started off selling Beatles records.

“It seems mad, but there was a time in Scotland when no one, not even the First Minister, got more mentions than Mr Romanov.”

For all the light-hearted memories Mann is heartbroken for friends and former colleagues who face an uncertain future.

He said: “You can’t say it’s all been worth it when good people are about to lose their jobs. That’s the human cost.

“These people have done their jobs in extremely difficult circumstances.

“In a way, they’ve seen some moments to savour as Hearts fans but it shouldn’t end with them losing their job.

“Maybe it’s a new start. Hearts have done well to stave off administration until now.

“Mr Romanov’s life would make for a great film. It’s just a shame the story has an unhappy ending.”