Tide turns against Romanov

VLADIMIR Romanov's extended honeymoon period at Hearts came to an end yesterday when the club's supporters launched a backlash against the owner's stewardship.

Fans had remained loyal to Romanov despite several changes of management and constant interference with team selection, citing the winning of the Scottish Cup and qualification for the Champions League as evidence of there being merit in the Lithuanian businessman's unconventional approach.

But the absence of club captain Steven Pressley from the 1-1 draw at Falkirk on Monday night has heightened fears about the future under Romanov.

A significant swing of opinion against him was detectable yesterday, as the implications of Monday night's team selection began to hit home.

Although at present no more than a small percentage of fans wants Romanov out whatever it costs, far greater numbers now believe - and admit - that he has to change direction if the credibility of the club is to be restored. As our selection of comments from scotsman.com shows, the mood among supporters has changed. The tide has turned, and the events of Monday night may turn out to be a pivotal moment in the Romanov reign.

Those who have met the entrepreneur know he does not have a long track record of heeding advice, but they believe he may listen once he realises his wider business credibility is also being undermined by events at the football club.

Romanov's avowed strategy has always been to use a successful Hearts as a springboard for his other companies. Ukio Bankas, the Lithuanian bank in which he has a controlling interest, is the club's shirt sponsor, and the astonishing amount of publicity surrounding Hearts over the past two years has catapulted the bank from unknown quantity to virtual household name in Scotland.

But, while Hearts did well last season, their internal strife this season has generated very little positive publicity. As if the farce on Monday had not been bad enough, events yesterday only increased the perception of chaos when the club confirmed that Eugenijus Riabovas will shortly take over as head coach from Eduard Malofeev.

"It is no surprise that he has become yet another person imported from Kaunas," said Martin Laidlaw, chairman of the Heart of Midlothian Supporters Trust. "It's just another part of what seems to be a farcical situation. A lot of supporters are becoming extremely tired by it.

"I doubt people will have much of an appetite for protests. We can only try and get key individuals - maybe the likes of [former chairman] George Foulkes and various other big hitters - to actually plead with Romanov to say 'look, you are damaging something really quite precious'. He needs to be reminded he is only the custodian of the club for the time being and that he needs to stop playing FIFA football manager with a major Scottish institution."

Riabovas is to take over as interim head coach, for Malofeev himself has been no more than the caretaker while Valdas Ivanauskas has been signed off on indefinite sick leave. What made matters worse was the news from the SFA that Malofeev has been handed a two-match touchline ban after manhandling the fourth official on Monday, which comes into effect seven days after Hearts receive official notification.

Hearts still insist that Ivanauskas will return from Lithuania, where he has been receiving treatment for a stress-related condition, but they have not put even an approximate timescale on that return.

They would therefore not say yesterday how long Riabovas would be in charge, or whether he was expected to return to his job as coach of Kaunas for the new Lithuanian season. The current one ended last week with Kaunas, effectively controlled by Romanov, champions again.

The odds on Riabovas staying for any length of time, however, are not favourable. He is the seventh head coach to take charge of Hearts since Romanov took over in February 2005, meaning the average reign of a manager has been three months. John Robertson, George Burley and Graham Rix have all left Hearts in that 21-month period, while John McGlynn has been briefly in charge on a caretaker basis.

Hearts would be no more precise yesterday than to state that Riabovas will take over the reins later this month, but it is widely expected that Sunday's match at home to Rangers will be Malofeev's last as head coach.
Hearts fans hit back

HEARTS supporters have not been slow to give us their views on the state of events at Tynecastle this season via the scotsman.com website, but yesterday's reaction to the omission of Steven Pressley from the first team was unprecedented.

For the first time, the disaffected outweighed the loyalists who have argued that winning the Scottish Cup and coming second in the league are the bottom line when it comes to judging whether the actions of club owner Vladimir Romanov are having a positive or negative effect on Hearts.

Here is a selection from the hundreds of comments posted or emailed by readers yesterday.

You just couldn't make it up. Hearts do have a large enough squad to really do something this season, but seem determined to implode at every opportunity. Still, it keeps the Old Firm off the front pages, so at least that's a comfort to all non Old Firm fans.

— Cammy

The communist system may be dead in eastern Europe but there still seems to be the old attitude and mentality that when the leader speaks you listen and believe or it's off to the salt mines with you. Steven Pressley, I applaud you for your stance in trying to keep the team together, but you are paying the price for it - thank god that there are no salt mines in Scotland.

— Donald Cameron

Romanov needs to get his act together and realise that he has keen and dedicated players in the squad who he is messing about with. Hearts used to be a super and respected team but now he is destroying that and making us the laughing stock of all the other teams. We need to take a stand - what can we the supporters and players do? Something has to be done before Hearts are lost forever.

— Margaret

I am at a complete loss to understand what is going on. I wish to goodness Romanov would find a good manager and coach who understand the Scottish scene, and then get off their backs, and let them select players, teams and strategies, all of which his authoritarian approach is now failing badly to achieve.

— Andrew MacRae

Players don't know if they are coming or going. For a spell the team looked really promising but now it's in disarray. When your best players come out saying they are not happy, then you know something is not right. I do believe that they have now missed the train, and it will take some time to get on the right track.

— Scott Pritchard

Right now, I fondly remember the days when we were unsuccessful. We were taken so far so often and always failed, but these regular failures were easier to accept than the pantomime that is Heart of Midlothian Football Club now. Following last week's inept performance at Easter Road I did not have the stomach to watch Monday night's match on television. I felt that way before I heard about the Pressley situation, which is just the latest in a long list of absurdities. I am not proud to be a Hearts supporter today. It would almost be preferable to support Hibernian and share in the excitement, and inevitable failure, that they will experience this season.

— Rab Quilietti

What I can't believe is the lack of dissent there is from the fans. I don't think a couple of chants of "there's only one Paul Hartley" or "one Steven Pressley" is going to do much use. The decent players are at the end of their tether and need more support from the fans. We need to make Romanov's life as difficult as possible until he is forced to act with the best interests of HMFC. If no-one registers much of a complaint then Romanov will think we'll take anything from him no matter what the tinkering.

— Ross, Gorgie

I've supported Hearts for over 40 years but never have I felt so upset, angry, helpless, confused, and embarrassed by what's going on at Tynecastle. Following Hearts hasn't always been easy - we've always had more than our share of disappointments - but lately it has become farcical. Of course I will always support Hearts, but my God it's becoming harder to do.

— Brian

I can remember plenty of times a lot worse than these times, and I too have supported Hearts for over 40 years. I do agree that recent events have become strange, but I've seen Hearts in far worse states than present times so I'm not going to get involved in theatrical comments.

— John, Livingston

Romanov is not interested in the club, its history and traditions - just his power. Steven Pressley is a model professional, who in his words and actions provides a positive role model for young people. This view was endorsed by local councillors at the recent civic reception. He is every thing that Romanov is not.

— Steve

Remember Romanov once said his dream was to see an entire team of Lithuanians on the field. That tongue-in-cheek statement does not seem so far off now. If the Scots don't go along with him they will be gone. I'm afraid we all believed the hype from the start and now we are paying for it. To all those fans who keep going to Tynecastle week in week out: why?

— Ross

We are a poor team which has become a laughing stock, not only in Scotland. The fact that the good players are not performing is due to the backroom circus and we cannot blame Pressley, Gordon and Hartley for not being at their best. Good players do not go bad for no reason.

— Johnny

What we need from the owners is a proper explanation for what happened on Monday night, I'm sure nobody buys the "not mentally prepared" excuse. I don't think boycotting is the way (ahead), we have to back the players in this. How long until we have to set up AFC Hearts?

— Graham

Sorry, but the majority sold out to him (Romanov). There were plenty of people advising you against giving him full control but like a flock of blind sheep you sold out at the earliest opportunity and now look what's happening.

— Christopher

Hearts' results will just get poorer, we will slip down the table, and this will force Romanov to admit he is wrong.

— Martin, Edinburgh

Face reality folks, anyone who crosses their boss publicly, and calls a meeting to slate him, is going to get the sack. Romanov is the boss, no matter how bizarre this man seems, you have to obey your paymaster. Wake up and smell the coffee, Romanov is the man in charge and fighting him is going to get no one anywhere. He is still the only show in town.

— Mick

I think it is healthy that employees have the opportunity to express their feelings and I'm sure they would have tried on a number of occasions to speak directly to the powers that be to resolve the problem before going public. But I'm sure Mr Romanov would have told them it was his way or the high way.

— Scott, Livingston

Vlad is doing what he thinks is right for the club and, having put his money where his mouth is, is entitled to do as he pleases. Let's be patient and judge him over the longer term.

— Steve Calder, Edinburgh

Taken from the Scotsman