Robertson says Hearts manager job not “poisoned chalice”

• Scottish Cup final winning boss Paulo Sergio left after being asked to take a wage cut to remain at Tynecastle

• Robertson says money being paid by Hearts to Sergio’s former club may have forced decision

The Portuguese boss, who guided the Gorgie club to William Hill Scottish Cup success last month, departed yesterday after rejecting a new contract.

Robertson, a former Hearts striker, was Hearts manager between 2004 and 2005 and first to leave under Romanov.

Several of his successors, including Sergio, have not always had full autonomy over first-team matters but Robertson said: “I don’t think it’s a poisoned chalice.

“We have a very British/Scottish way of looking at things whereas on the continent this is the norm; owners and directors have a huge influence on the team.

“In fact, in most countries the director of football’s the man that actually signs the players and the coach is given the players to get on with the job.”

Robertson believes “drastic budget cuts” meant retaining Sergio was always going to be difficult.

“This is a significant move from Hearts that they’re cutting back,” he said.

“I think he was on a substantial contract at [former club] Sporting Lisbon and Hearts were paying some of that and Sporting Lisbon will still be paying a huge amount of his wages until the end of the season.

“We know there’s going to be drastic budget cuts at Hearts and there’s going to be a lot more young players but I’m sure they’d rather have had him at the helm.

“They have been living beyond their means in the last four or five years.

“They’ve decided that they can’t do it anymore, that they have to be sustainable and live within their budgets.”