Romanov is heading to Hampden with Hearts

HEARTS owner Vladimir Romanov plans to attend next month’s Scottish Cup final, when his club take on Hibernian in the showpiece occasion for the first time since 1896. If he does attend the game at Hampden on 19 May, it will be the first time this year that Romanov has seen Hearts.

“He is definitely very willing to come to Scotland and he is making arrangements to allow him to be at the game,” Hearts director Sergejus Fedotovas said. “I hope we will be able to see him. He is very excited.”

When Hearts were last in the Scottish Cup final – in 2006 when they defeated Gretna on penalties – Romanov attended along with former crewmates from the K-19 submarine on which he served during his time in the Soviet Navy. Fedotovas added that he was unsure who, if anyone, would accompany Romanov this time if he made the journey from his present home in Lithuania.

“Every supporter of Hearts would want to bring as many people with them to enjoy this game and I think Mr Romanov is no different,” the director said. “But I don’t know his travel plans at the moment. All I know is that he is still planning his travel.”

Touts have already been trying to sell tickets for the match at more than five times their face value.

One website has been advertising £35 tickets for sale at £190, and both clubs, along with the Scottish Football Association, have urged supporters not to do business with it and other unofficial outlets.

“This is not an official site and we would advise fans not to use it,” an SFA spokesperson said. Hearts said they would be “doing all we can to ensure fans are not exploited”. Hibs said they would “work very closely with the authorities to make sure that tickets go to genuine Hibs supporters”.

Each club has put 20,000 tickets on sale to supporters. There is unlikely to be a public sale.