BAD VLAD'S ARMY

HEARTS played their part in a dramatic game against Celtic on the first day of 2006 and the thrilling nature of the Hoops' victory set the tone for a roller-coaster 12 months at Tynecastle.

Celtic' 3-2 win from being 2-0 down proved there is never a dull moment when self-styled Tsar Vladimir Romanov is around - and never more so than over the last year.

It has been a particularly eventful period even by the madcap Lithuanian banker's standards but there can still be no denying he has delivered success, winning the Scottish Cup and clinching a Champions League spot.

But the club's habit of shooting itself in the foot hasn't changed either. The latest example was when captain and loyal servant Steven Pressley was ruthlessly axed.

Bosses have been bounced too. Graham Rix was sacked in March and his replacement Valdas Ivanauskas has found his position under increasing scrutiny.

On top of that there have been high-profile rows with - well, just about anyone. From players such as Andy Webster to the SFA and refs.

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The media have also been on the end of some of Bad Vlad's famous rants and here MailSport takes a look back at another bumpy year at Hearts.

JANUARY: The Jambos looked set to get 2006 off to a flier when they were 2-0 up against title rivals Celtic after only eight minutes.

But a Stephen Pearson strike and two late goals from Stephen McManus meant only misery for the Gorgie side.

Hearts were furious at Takis Fysass' sending off and the SFA later upheld the club's appeal, while Romanov demanded the game be replayed.

That came to nothing and SFA chief executive David Taylor hit back at claims of a refereeing conspiracy against the Jambos.

Hearts were also linked with an audacious £5million-plus move for, among other Liverpool stars, Mohammed Sissoko.

On a more sombre note, one-time King of Hearts Wallace Mercer lost his battle against cancer.

Boss Rix snapped up 11 players during the transfer window with old pal Jim Duffy joining the coaching staff.

FEBRUARY: Chaos reigned once more at Tynecastle after a farcical day when it emerged Rix had told the players Romanov was picking the team.

As the row rumbled on Romanov's right-hand man Liutauras Varanavicius insisted the Hearts owner didn't pick the team - he just suggested it!

Jambos fans had to sweat before their idols beat Partick Thistle 2-1 in a Scottish Cup tie.

MARCH: Rix was sacked, leaving the club seeking their third manager of the season. Despite the Englishman being in charge for just four months Romanov declared he had waited too long to fire him.

Coach Ivanauskas was appointed as an interim replacement and the Jambos drew Hibs in the Cup semi.

APRIL: Paul Hartley was man of the moment in a month when events on the field were all the talk for a change.

Pleas to the SFA to switch the semi to Murrayfield were turned down and Hartley hit a hat-trick in an emphatic 4-0 win at Hampden.

And Jambos also secured the second Champions League spot when a Hartley penalty against Aberdeen put them beyond Rangers' reach.

Webster was playing no part in the glory run, though, as he was snubbed for refusing to sign a new deal,

MAY: Hearts became the first non-Old Firm club to win the Scottish Cup since the Tynecastle side in 1998 - but only after a dramatic shoot-out victory over little Gretna and Hartley being sent off.

Romanov said Hearts could claim the title next season - if they don't get undermined by bad decisions and "parasites" advising players.

He followed that with two more mega rants, claiming the club could reach the Champions League final and be as big as Barcelona and that his chauffeur could have done a better job than Rix and Duffy.

JUNE: A BBC documentary gave Romanov yet another platform to sound off. But it was the former Tynecastle chairman George Foulkes' claims that mad Vlad believed a game between Celtic and Hearts had been fixed which made the headlines.

Romanov also revealed he DID tell Rix who should be in his team but insisted his coaches always have the final say in selections.

The SFA brought in a new rule meaning they could now gag Romanov.

And Hearts were also threatened with the wrath of FIFA after failing to cough up the money they still owed for record signing Mirsad Beslija.

JULY: Rebels Webster and Rudi Ska-cel failed to turn up for pre-season training, ensuring they had almost certainly kicked their last ball for the club.

Webster had invoked Article 17 of FIFA regulations that allows players aged between 23 and 28 to leave a club three years into a four-year contract to sign for a team in another country.

But Hearts lodged an official complaint with FIFA and the SFA after the international defender didn't trap to join Ivanauskas' squad as they jetted out to a summer training camp in Austria.

The draw for the first Champions League qualifier paired Hearts with Bosnians Siroki Brijeg.

AUGUST: Romanov handed caretaker boss Ivanauskas the job full time - then demanded the SPL title.

And at the same time former Belarus coach Eduard Malofeev was appointed director of football.

But after booking a place in the final Champions League qualifier with a 3-0 aggregate win over Siroki, the group stages eluded Hearts when they lost home and away to Greeks AEK Athens.

SEPTEMBER: Fans didn't see the two World Cup stars they were promised but Romanov revealed he had made a bid to lure ex-Hibs striker Garry O'Connor back to Scotland from Moscow.

Lack of quality signings was beginning to tell on the pitch as Hearts were eliminated from the UEFA Cup at the hands of Czech side Sparta Prague.

The defeat in the home leg at Murrayfield was their fifth in the opening 11 games of the season.

That was a shocking start to the campaign and in direct contrast to the previous season when the Jambos blazed out of the blocks and lost just one of their opening 14 games.

OCTOBER: Sensational scenes as Tynecastle erupted in civil war. Captain Pressley, flanked by fellow senior pros Hartley and Craig Gordon, spoke of "significant unrest" in the dressing-room. In a bold move Elvis read out a prepared statement.

It was prompted by a threat from Romanov to sell ALL the players if they lost an SPL match with Dunfermline.

This came after a stressed Ivanauskas returned home to Lithuania on sick leave, Malofeev taking over in the dug-out.

But his tenure as caretaker gaffer was both short and unsuccessful.

NOVEMBER: There was incredible confusion over the managerial post when Kaunas coach Eujenijus Riabovas talked with pride of taking over the reins.

The Lithuanian spoke of his belief in his ability to turn around the Gorgie club's fortunes. But in a shock move it was Ivanauaskas who returned to resume his head coach role. Loyal servant John McGlynn left to take over at Raith Rovers and Stephen Frail was promoted to No.2.

DECEMBER: Pressley (right) paid the price for speaking out against Romanov as his time at the club came to an end.

Hartley and Gordon, who had stood with the axed skipper, were also summoned to disciplinary meetings but avoided the chop.

Keeper Gordon was named as captain then sensationally axed for yesterday's clash with Dundee United.

That bizarre move came 48 hours after a fans' group issued an open letter accusing Romanov of turning Hearts into a circus freak show.

Taken from the Sunday Mail