WAR AND PEACE

VLADIMIR ROMANOV launched a last-gasp appeal against his SFA fine after his original claim was held up by the Christmas post.

The SFA were led to believe the Hearts chief hadn't made an appeal against his £10,000 fine for critical comments about referees because they had heard nothing from the club before yesterday's deadline.

But Hearts last night claimed a letter had indeed been sent by recorded delivery to Hampden that confirmed the Lithuanian was prepared to fight to clear his name.

The letter hadn't been received by late yesterday afternoon but the SFA then received a fax which informed them that Romanov would indeed fight his case.

And during another intriguing day of events surrounding the Tynecastle club yesterday, new Hearts skipper Craig Gordon emerged seemingly unscathed from his disciplinary meeting.

The Scotland keeper, who spent 40 minutes at his meeting with players' union representative Fraser Wishart, in the same portakabin where Paul Hartley was summoned last Thursday, refused to say anything as he left but is expected to retain the skipper's armband for the visit to Dundee United on Saturday.

And while those discussions went on Romanov was busy ensuring that he was ready for a battle with the authorities. The SFA were contacted by fax yesterday by Romanov's legal advisors, who indicated that an appeal had been sent in time.

But the original papers and appeal fee had still not been received by the SFA and were believed to be in the postal system, understandably busier at this time of the year.

The SFA's procedures on lodging an appeal state that an appeal must be dispatched by recorded delivery within seven days after the date on which the decision was intimated to the person concerned.

But now that Romanov and Hearts have declared their intention, an Independent Appeals board will meet sometime in February.

It will be chaired by a law lord and a panel made up of two senior football figures will discuss the case.

In the meantime, Gordon will be able to carry on his captain's duties -for the time being at least.

The 23-year-old did not make any comment as he left the meeting but union representative Wishart said: "What was discussed today is absolutely confidential.

"Comparing Steven Pressley with Paul Hartley or Craig Gordon is wrong. I cannot go into the situation, it was individual hearings at every opportunity.

"Craig will go on I'm sure and have a long and successful career."

Taken from the Daily Record