Five years on: the Romanov Hearts revolution

THERE has been no bunting strung across Gorgie Road. No special celebrations in the streets or raucous rejoicing within Tynecastle itself. In fact, the most remarkable thing about the fifth anniversary of Vladimir Romanov's takeover of Hearts is the fact it has come and gone almost unremarked.

It was in February 2005 that the Lithuanian businessman took effective control of Hearts by completing the buy-out of chief executive Chris Robinson. He had already made a positive impact on the club's supporters by canceling the sale of the ground, and would go on to cause shock waves throughout Scottish football by building a team which started the following season with eight wins in a row.

Hearts' goal, he said that year, should be to win the Champions League. They should play in a newly redeveloped Tynecastle, which would be the best football ground in Scotland.

Romanov has continued to hit the headlines from time to time with the odd bombastic outburst, but a sense of realism has long since settled over the club. Grandiose plans for a new main stand were recently downgraded, and far from challenging Rangers and Celtic for major honours, Hearts are locked in a battle with Aberdeen, whom they play at Pittodrie today, for a place in the top six of the SPL.

The chasm between the dream and the reality shows no sign of closing. Indeed, judged purely on league position, Hearts have fared slightly worse in the five seasons running up to Romanov's takeover compared to the five since.

From 2000-01 to 2004-05, they had three fifth-place finishes and two third. Beginning in 2005-06, his first full campaign in charge, they have been second, fourth, eighth and third, and at present lie sixth.

The Scottish Cup win of 2006 remains the only trophy won by the club in Romanov's time. No Hearts fan would regard that triumph as negligible, but it is not without precedent: the club's roll of major honours boasts 14 other entries.

The foregoing facts go some way to explaining the lack of celebrations this month, and the club's massive debt is a serious concern. But there is one simple reason why Romanov continues to command gratitude, and why posterity will show him to have been at least in part a positive force: Hearts can still call Tynecastle home.

It should not be forgotten that, before Romanov came on the scene, club chairman George Foulkes secured a year's delay to the sale of the ground proposed by Robinson. Without that adroit piece of political manoeuvring, Hearts would have been homeless before Romanov firmed up an interest, and that state would surely have dissuaded him from buying Robinson's shareholding.

But Foulkes himself bought time precisely because he hoped a white knight could be found. He knew his action would have been no more than a postponement of the sale but for the funds pumped in by the new owner.

Every game played at the ground since, no matter the result or the size of the crowd, has been a robust refutation of Robinson's claim that Tynecastle was "not fit for purpose". Of course renovation will be required sooner or later; of course a new stand would be welcome; but in the meantime, home and away supporters alike will continue to relish the unique atmosphere of the place.

So compared to what would have been the case under Robinson, who planned to use Murrayfield for home fixtures, Hearts remain in fine fettle. In that sense, the last five years will remain firmly on the credit side of any assessment of Romanov, even if it all subsequently ends in tears.

What is more, the recent return as manager of Jim Jefferies has been a welcome indication that Romanov, or at least his key lieutenant Sergejus Fedotovas, understands the traditions of the club and the need to employ people who have its long-term interests at heart. There has already been a modest improvement on the field of play, and sensible trading over the summer can ensure it is sustained next season.

And yet despite those positive aspects of the Romanov era, the overall impression of these past five years is one of frustrating waste. The club has parted company far too precipitately with some valuable employees, and been too tolerant of others whose contribution has been a lot less. At times it has splashed out ludicrous sums on moderately talented players: at others it has been absurdly parsimonious.

Look at the overall picture and it makes little sense. Hearts are not the only football club of whom that could be said, but that is no consolation either to supporters of the team or to those many neutrals who had hoped that Romanov's arrival would herald a shift in the balance of power away from the Old Firm.

The Romanov era at Hearts may continue for some time, and a final assessment of his effect cannot be made while he and his associates remain in power. But given the scale of the debt and the size of Ukio Bankas Investment Group, Hearts' parent company, it is hard to see a definitive change for the better under the current owners.

There are many worse club owners than Romanov, and few as entertaining. But, especially considering the sums expended, his five years at the helm of Hearts have to be regarded as a missed opportunity.