POWER-CRAZY DICTATORS CAN DELIVER TITLES SAYS RON ATKINSON

RON ATKINSON listened to critics insisting Jesus Gil would never get success with his trigger-happy ways at Atletico Madrid only for the madcap chairman to deliver a double.

And that's why Big Ron is convinced Vladimir Romanov CAN achieve what he wants with Hearts despite his ruthless style.

The comparisons in the dictatorial styles between the late Gil at the Vicente Calderon stadium and Romanov's regime in Edinburgh are striking.

The Jambos owner has earned a reputation for impatience but even he has some way to go before he can match Gil, who died two years ago.

Former Kaunas coach Eugenijus Riabovas will be the seventh Hearts boss in Romanov's turbulent 21-month reign when he officially takes over from Eduard Malofeev tomorrow.

Gil went through an incredible 40 managers in 16 years at Atletico - including SIX in one season - but there are those who would argue his methods worked.

Cast in the role of the Spanish capital's second side behind Real, he was determined to bring success at any cost and did - eventually.

Atletico won the Spanish Cup in 1991 and 1992 but their greatest success under the eccentric Gil was the league and cup double delivered by Radi Antic in 1996.

Atkinson was just one of those managers who passed through the club's revolving doors - lasting only 96 days.

And while he doesn't agree with dismissing managers on a whim he knows it can pay off.

He said: "I know it goes against all the turmoil there but, in fairness to Romanov, Hearts have had their most successful spell in 46 years.

"I would normally say actions such as his are a recipe for failure but it hasn't always been that way.

"Gil can certainly be used as an example of that.

"He went through more managers than anyone can remember and people said he wouldn't get success that way.

"But Atletico won the double in 1996 under Antic which is no mean feat for a club outside the Big Two in Spain.

"It's possible Jesus could have got his success sooner if he'd been more loyal to managers. We were certain we were on the right road when I was in charge and felt we would have done something.

"But that's hypothetical. What we do know is he DID deliver the double and nobody can argue with that.

"So it can be achieved with constant change but I still believe the chairman's job is to identify the manager and give him a reasonable chance.

"If he gives him a fair crack and he fails he has every right to get rid of him.

"Sometimes powerful men react on a whim.

"There's little you can do to change their minds once they're made up because they believe they're right.

"I remember one guy called Francisco Maturana who had managed Colombia at the 1994 World Cup. He took over and I went out with Aston Villa to play Atletico in a pre-season tournament.

"But Maturana was sacked BEFORE the league started!

"I said then it was probably because he didn't smile in the team photo."

Atkinson believes the similarities between Romanov and Gil are spooky, both driven by a sense of power.

Ron said: "Romanov is a big player in Lithuania and Jesus was one of the most prominent men in Spain.

"Gil was the craziest bloke I have ever known. He worked to different rules to the rest of the planet.

"You had the feeling some days if you lost the toss at kickoff you might get the bullet.

"From what I've read of Romanov he's similar. It's ironic he's called Mad Vlad because my nickname for Jesus was Mad Max.

"When I was at Atletico we were second in La Liga - two points behind Real - but it didn't stop Gil disposing of me!

"But he was a genuine character and I actually liked him. He was great company, an unbelievable man.

"He used to parade along the front of the stand where he had his own little fan club who sang something along the lines of 'Jesus is mightier than God.'

"Two weeks before I finished we lost the Madrid derby to an injury-time goal.

"We were easily the better side and I told the boys to forget training on Monday and took them out for lunch instead.

"Jesus turned up at the restaurant and launched into a speech saying the spirit of the club was better than he'd ever known.

"Two weeks later I got a call from my assistant Colin Addison telling me he'd been offered my job. That was Jesus."

Taken from the Sunday Mail