Foulkes reveals his regret over Romanov

Published on Monday 5 May 2008 23:39

FORMER Hearts chairman George Foulkes has spoken of his regret at the role he played in welcoming Vladimir Romanov to power at Tynecastle, but said he would not apologise as there was "no other obvious choice" to save the club at the time.

Foulkes has been a fierce critic of the Hearts regime in recent weeks, calling on Romanov to appoint a permanent manager, open lines of communication with frustrated supporters, and improve an underachieving Tynecastle side.

But Foulkes has been stung by questions over the role he played in helping Romanov become the club's majority shareholder, and now admits he harbours regrets.

Writing in his newspaper column in the Evening News, Foulkes said: "I am acutely aware of my role – with others – in attracting Vladimir Romanov to Tynecastle and all that followed. I have not, and will not apologise for that either, because there was no other obvious choice. The demolition trucks were all but rolling in under the ownership of Chris Robinson.

"Do I regret the way things have turned out? Absolutely. But tell me, what would you have done? Allowed Hearts to lose their home and potentially go to the wall? Being in a position to try and help, I was damned if I was going to sit back and watch that happen. "Maybe it was the wrong decision, but it felt like the right thing to do."

Foulkes insisted that he still believed Romanov could turn the club's fortunes around, but added: "I am angry most of all at Vladimir Romanov for letting us, and letting me down in such a horrific way. We instilled so much faith in him and his inner circle that it feels like being jilted at the altar."