John Brown: ‘Romanov is Hearts’ Craig Whyte’

Vladimir Romanov, pictured in 2012. Picture: TSPL

Brown, a former youth coach at Rangers who attempted to gain support for a fans’ buyout of the club, called the Gorgie side’s main investor a ‘rogue’ with a ‘big ego’.

Brown told The Sun: “Romanov’s a rogue. From day one at Hearts you could see what he was going to do and there is not a great deal of difference between him and the Craig Whytes of this world.”

Hearts are anxiously awaiting a Monday meeting with SPL bosses where they will attempt to clarify the club’s financial position.

It is feared that the club could be hit with an insolvency penalty of 17 points, which would see them relegated and Brown’s side spared the drop.

Brown said while he wants Dundee to be in the top tier, he does not want his side to profit from another’s demise.

Brown said: “I would hate to see them go under. It is bad for Scottish football.

“It might benefit Dundee but that does not matter. It’s a terrible thing for the people who work there and for the supporters. They have been let down by people with big egos.

“I’m interested in Dundee staying as high as we can, but you never want to do it through circumstances like that.”