George Foulkes: Jim Jefferies the obvious choice for Hearts after 'inevitable' Laszlo sacking

Published Date: 30 January 2010
EX-HEARTS chairman George Foulkes says Jim Jefferies was an obvious choice to replace Csaba Laszlo.

Lord Foulkes was chairman at Tynecastle from April 2004 to October 2005 before resigning in protest at majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov's decision to dismiss chief executive Phil Anderton.

He said: "It's an obvious choice, first of all because of his previous connections with Hearts, secondly, because of the fact he was unemployed and would be looking for a job."

Jefferies left Killie earlier this month after his relationship with chairman Michael Johnston broke down. Foulkes added of Jefferies: "I think he's doing it with his eyes open and I think he'll know all the constraints there.

"Perhaps he hopes he can overcome them. It won't be easy but he has a lot of experience.

"He's seen how other managers have operated and have difficulties with the owner and I think he'll be prepared for it.

"I think he'll be welcomed by the majority of fans. Some will have hesitations but I think the majority, including me, will welcome him."

Foulkes branded Laszlo's departure "inevitable". He added: "There have been problems in terms of his relations with the players and it's clearly not been a happy ship.

"It was always clear that he seemed to be angling for some exit strategy.

"For a while, he did very well.

"But it's clear also that he's been one of a long line of people who don't find it easy to work with Romanov.

"It's surprising he managed to survive for so long.

"People had been getting increasingly frustrated with his tactics on the field recently and wondered if he had been playing a game between him and Romanov. Some of the team selection and tactics were strange, to say the least."

Among the factors believed to have contributed to Laszlo's sacking were touting himself for other jobs and repeatedly bemoaning the club's unwillingness to sign players.

Foulkes said: "I can understand his frustration. It's always difficult when you're dealing with an owner who, first of all, is hardly ever there and who, from afar, intervenes and interferes not just in buying or not buying a player that is needed urgently, but also in some cases the tactics as well."

Taken from the Scotsman