GRANT: HEARTS CHIEF SHOULD BE MORE LIKE DELIA

NORWICH are owned by one of the most famous TV chefs in Britain but Peter Grant last night promised there's no danger of Delia Smith taking the club from the frying pan into the fire like Vladimir Romanov at Hearts.

The Canaries boss has revealed that last week he invited Delia to attend a team talk at Carrow Road but the woman renowned for her, "Where are you. Let's be 'avin you' taunt to her own fans knocked the idea back.

Now Granty's using that example of non-interference to back up his plea to Romanov to reinstate Steven Pressley to the centre of his team's defence before it's too late.

The former Celtic star said: "I was up in Scotland on Monday, when Elvis was axed from the side at Falkirk and I couldn't believe what was going on at Tynecastle.

"Steven has been the catalyst for whatever success Hearts have had since Romanov took over and the club should be rolling out a red carpet every time he appears at the front door, not plotting behind his back to show him the exit.

"But Romanov picks the team and meddles in the day-to-day running of the club.

"Personally, I'd rather empty my desk and leave before I'd allow myself to be treated that way.

"If I'm going to get sacked by Delia one day then it'll be because of the mistakes I've made and not on the back of what happened when somebody else picked my team for me."

Grant made his offer to let the Norwich owner in on the team talk for last Saturday's win over Tony Mowbray'sWest Brom out of respect for her position at the Championship club. He said: "It won't happen on a regular basis but I wanted to give Delia her place As it turned out, she rejected the idea but her husband, Michael Wynn-Jones, very reluctantly agreed to come into my domain."

Romanov works on the opposite theory that he can go wherever he wants, regardless of whether he's wanted there or not. And Grant wonders what the Russian's end game is while Tynecastle simmers with discontent

Grant said: "I wouldn't work for him and can't think of anybody who would.

"Elvis' reward for integrity and standing up for dressing room solidarity, which any club needs, has been the threat of dismissal.

"Romanov reminds me of Jesus Gil, the former Atletico Madrid president who once sacked coaches with laughable regularity.

"What did he win with his dictatorial attitude?

"One league title in 17 years as president of the club widely regarded as the third-biggest in Spain.

"I thought it was brilliant when Hearts split the Old Firm in the league table last season because Romanov had the money to take them even further than that.

"But now he's acting against the best interests of his own club and you have to ask yourself why he's doing that.

"His conduct over Pressley is ruining whatever good he's achieved and pulling Hearts towards civil war.

"If the circus continues then it will look like the long-term strategy is to look for a way to walk out on the club.

"It's hardly ideal preparation for the vital game against Rangers on Sunday.

"Delia lets me get on with my job at Norwich and we've had four wins and a draw in my first six matches.

"Hearts haven't won any of their last half-dozen games.

"Harmonious relationships pay dividends on the park because players need to feel settled to give their best.

"That's what Elvis was trying to make sure happened at Tynecastle. They should be walking over broken glass to get him back into that team."

Taken from the Daily Record