Romanov: I don't regret sacking Burley. We could have lost more if he'd stayed

By Graeme Croser

It was Scottish football's ultimate Sliding Doors moment - what would have happened had Vladimir Romanov chosen not to dispense with the services of George Burley back in 2005?

Seven years ago, Tynecastle had the buzz of a movie set with a star-studded cast playing out a great adventure featuring one massive plot twist just 10 games into the season.

At the fateful moment, Hearts sat unbeaten and top of the league.

Romanov's shock decision to sack his manager threw the club into crisis mode, with chief executive Phil Anderton and chairman George Foulkes also departing in the ensuing mayhem.

On the field, Hearts had looked the real deal, contenders to become the first non-Old Firm side to claim the title in 20 years.

Yet, following Burley's exit, a team which blended the talents of Scotland internationalists like Craig Gordon and Steven Pressley with exciting new signings including Edgaras Jankauskas, Takis Fyssas and Rudi Skacel was never the same.

The ineptitude of a Rangers team limping towards Alex McLeish's pre-planned departure allowed the Tynecastle side to scrape second spot, but they still finished a full 17 points behind champions Celtic.

Burley's successor Graham Rix was also axed and although Valdas Ivanauskas helped the club lift the Scottish Cup, the feeling persisted that the campaign might have yielded so much more.

The subject still prompts dreamy thoughts of what might have been among Hearts fans but, seven years on, Romanov remains utterly convinced Burley had to go.

He insists: 'I don't regret sacking Burley. We could have lost more with him staying. Without him, we still got second place and the cup as well.
Former Hearts boss George Burley

'
It is a myth that he was a key. All the players brought to Hearts that year were brought by me. George Burley's influence was very minimal.

'I don't know why people think he was the great coach. Look especially at when he was promoted to the Scottish national team - that was one of Scottish football's biggest farces.'

Romanov is correct to point out that Burley's post-Tynecastle record has been poor - a mediocre spell at Southampton gave way to his underwhelming performance in charge of Scotland and he was sacked from his next two jobs at Crystal Palace and Apollon Limassol, the latter post lasting just two games.

Nevertheless, Burley's record post-Hearts is of little relevance to the original question. For one thing, Romanov hired the onetime English Manager of the Year because he had built an impressive CV managing Ipswich Town and Derby County.

Asked to expand on what Hearts might have 'lost' had Burley stayed, Romanov insists: 'His influence on the team was something that was not in our interests. He took Skacel away from the club, remember.

'In fact, following that season, four key players left Hearts and that was pretty much through his influence.

'(Paul) Hartley and Pressley went to Celtic, Andy Webster to Rangers and Skacel joined Burley at Southampton.

'It was only Craig Gordon who achieved the best career, the one player who decided to stay at Hearts despite being offered the chance to go.'

Webster ended up missing the 2006 Scottish Cup Final after being frozen out by Romanov in advance of a landmark and controversial move to Wigan, which saw him exploit a FIFA loophole and exit his contract early, denying Hearts a transfer fee. Hearts' anger was heightened when the defender joined Rangers six months later.

Skacel's Hampden goal against Gretna was to be his last before he agreed to join Southampton on the south coast in a £1.6million transfer. Yet, despite the acrimony surrounding both deals, the pair returned to Hearts and were part of Paulo Sergio's team as the club lifted the cup again last season. Romanov claims their re-signings were his way of proving a point.

'Part of the decision to take them back was to show that they had it good at Hearts,' he continued. 'The people who turned them away from Hearts and motivated them in various ways to leave the club achieved what they wanted, but the players got nowhere.

'Skacel only scored a few goals in four years. He had no future. Webster hardly played. When they came back to Hearts, I believe they shone again.'