Natives are restless after McGlynn departs

AS HE confirmed he was leaving Hearts to become the new manager of Raith Rovers, John McGlynn yesterday urged Vladimir Romanov to sort out the problems at Tynecastle. McGlynn is expected to take over at Stark's Park on Friday, and his departure will leave the Gorgie club without an English-speaking coach.

He believes the crisis at Hearts can be resolved, but only if Romanov is prepared to back down. He also said he understood why captain Steven Pressley and fellow Scotland internationals Craig Gordon and Paul Hartley spoke out about the turmoil that has engulfed the club in recent months but refused to be specific about what prompted the trio to take a stand.

"Something happened that broke the camel's back," McGlynn said of the so-called Riccarton Three. "The statement that Steven came out with, the issues have not been addressed.

"If Mr Romanov wants to fix it, he could fix it very easily and I think the club could go back to where they were and go even further. He needs to address the situation very very quickly," McGlynn told the BBC. "He needs to be big and brave and sort it out. Good can come out of these situations if the problems are addressed."

The loss of McGlynn has prompted leading Hearts supporters to call for a greater say for Scots in how the club is run. Speaking at the launch of Believe!, a book which documents the recent history of Hearts, Gary Mackay said another former player, Donald Ford, would be an ideal figure to mediate between the supporters and Romanov.

George Foulkes, the ex-chairman, said that Romanov had to listen to criticism of him for the sake of his own business ventures if not for that of the club. And Iain Macleod, a prominent member of the Save Our Hearts campaign which fought to prevent the sale of the ground, said that Mackay and Ford could both have a role to play.

"John McGlynn will be a huge miss when he leaves the club," Mackay said. "When John goes and we end up with no English-speaking people on first-team staff, then for me it becomes farcical."

But, while around 200 supporters protested after the defeat by Rangers on Sunday, and some brandished a banner saying "Romanov must go", Mackay, Foulkes and Macleod all said they still held out hope of improvement under the current administration.

"There has to be an openness and a transparency," Mackay added. "I'm not sure someone who has been as successful in business as Vladimir Romanov will apologise. [But] what is the point in Romanov opening a branch of Ukio Bankas in Edinburgh and building a new stand, because the crowds will start dwindling very shortly.

"I do think it's critical that we get someone in the George Foulkes mould on the board, a Scottish or British involvement on the boardroom and on the touchline. I don't think he would want to do it, but Donald Ford is the most articulate ex-footballer about. He will probably hate me for putting his name forward, but Donald Ford is someone who has a feel for the football club."

Macleod said he foresaw matters worsening if Romanov persisted in his dictatorial approach.

"Not so long ago there was a real feelgood factor and the result of that was a packed Tynecastle every week. I can't believe Mr Romanov will want anything other than that. I desperately would like to see guys like Gary Mackay and Donald Ford get involved and mediate between the club and the players.

"There may come a time when we have to reform Save Our Hearts. If the time's not here it will be here shortly unless something changes."

Lord Foulkes indicated he had seen signs of late that Romanov was maybe beginning to understand the situation. "I must be honest, he hasn't shown any inclination to listen until maybe recently. There have been some inklings that he realises his popularity has plummeted, and if he wants to be successful - not just with the club but with any other business ventures in and around Edinburgh - he needs to bring people along with him."

Ford last night ruled himself out of any involvement at boardroom level. "Unfortunately I'd have to say no," the former Hearts and Scotland striker said. "I'm extremely flattered that somebody thinks I'm capable of doing it, but at the moment I don't think I could make a difference.

"I've got my business and there's just no way I could do it. I've never lost my love for the club, but I just couldn't devote the time required. We're all making our points, but the one person who could sort it out refuses to speak."

It is not known when Romanov will next be in the country. He has cancelled a planned visit to Loch Ness on Saturday to support a charity venture in aid of Russian submariners. His original schedule would have taken him on to Inverness for Hearts' match against Caledonian Thistle.

• Believe! by Mark Donaldson with Gary Mackay is published by Mainstream, priced £15.99.

Taken from the Scotsman