Romanov reveals his ruthless streak

On the pitch, though, it remained business as usual as Hearts produced an excellent performance to secure a 1-1 draw against Celtic at Parkhead - preserving their unbeaten start. However, Burley did not realise that it was to be his last match in charge.

In the week leading up to the Dunfermline game, the return of Valdas Ivanauskas to Riccarton failed to raise any eyebrows. The Lithuanian had taken a backseat role under Burley at the start of the season and had departed at the end of August. A few days after returning to Edinburgh, however, Ivanauskas would find himself in the dugout, assistant to John McGlynn. "Valdas arrived back in Edinburgh a short time prior to George Burley's departure," said McGlynn. "However, I think it was more than just a coincidence.

"It was actually business as usual on the morning prior to the Dunfermline game. There was nothing to suggest that something was amiss."

That Friday Vladimir Romanov announced his intention to increase his stake in the club to 55.5 per cent after agreeing to purchase the SMG and HBoS shareholdings and become the club's majority shareholder.

An early morning press conference was held with former chief executive Sergejus Fedotovas, right, making a welcome return to Edinburgh after being out of the public spotlight for a couple of months because of illness. No one had any idea that the director of the club was not only in the country to applaud his boss for taking a huge step towards obtaining complete control of Heart of Midlothian but also to attend a meeting later that day that would ultimately bring an end to George Burley's reign.

Shortly after 10.00am on Saturday, October 22, however, it became clear to John McGlynn that this was not 'just another day': "I had gone up to the Academy at Riccarton early to prepare for an Under-19 match when I received a call from Phil Anderton. He told me something had happened and Mr Romanov wanted to meet me at Dalmahoy immediately. Phil more or less informed me that George Burley was no longer in charge.

"I went straight along to the hotel. Shortly afterwards, Steven Pressley arrived, and it was then confirmed to us that George Burley had parted company with the football club. Mr Romanov had made his decision. It was then up to Steven and me to discuss the way forward from there, starting with the Dunfermline match.

"We all knew it wasn't a bed of roses between the pair, but the timing of it on the day of a game was the biggest shock to me. I still do not understand why it was done when it was - Mr Romanov, though, took that decision, and he took the gamble."

The players began arriving at the hotel for their pre-match meal at about 11.45am, an impromptu meeting was held and the squad was informed what had happened. The visibly shocked players were not given a reason why George Burley had left.

The Hearts players somehow put the dramatic events of the morning behind them to record a 2-0 home victory over Dunfermline. A three-paragraph statement, read to the assembled press following the match against the Pars by George Foulkes and broadcast live on radio, failed to answer any questions.

One of the best starts to a season in living memory had now been completely overshadowed. George Burley had left Hearts having never lost a league match - but why?

It quickly became apparent that both parties had verbally agreed a confidentiality clause and the real reasons behind his departure would not be revealed.

Until now.

Former chairman George Foulkes explained: "George Burley was getting all the credit for the fantastic start that Hearts had made, and rightly so. The media were giving him credit, and the supporters were giving him credit. Of course they were - he was doing a good job. However, Vladimir Romanov has a problem with anyone who is in the limelight at the expense of him. He does not like it at all."

The working relationship between Romanov and Burley slowly deteriorated throughout August and September, before reaching the point of no return in October. Burley was perplexed that players were signed without his knowledge or say-so (Samuel Camazzola and Ibrahim Tall being just two examples). The head coach was also annoyed when he put forward transfer targets to Romanov but was consistently knocked back. There was also mounting disillusion from Romanov about Burley. He did not like the style of play - he felt it was far too physical, despite the positive results. Romanov also became increasingly annoyed about Burley's team selection. In one instance, Burley was told by one of the Lithuanian directors, acting on orders from Romanov, that Saulius Mikoliunas should feature more regularly (instead of Rudi Skacel), while Burley was harangued for not including Deividas Cesnauskis in the first team more often. Romanov wanted his Lithuanian players to be in the shop window and on show for potential buyers, and it annoyed him when they were either on the bench or left out completely. Romanov was also paranoid about Burley's relationship with certain agents. He believed the manager was only picking players from a select group of representatives.

These reservations were confirmed by Foulkes: "Vladimir Romanov and George Burley disagreed on various matters during Burley's short spell in charge, including the relationship the manager had with certain agents and also which players George was selecting to play - for example, Julien Brellier.

"Romanov used to draw up a matrix on a continuing basis relating to the performance of the players, giving each a mark out of ten. He would regularly give Brellier three or four out of ten, saying he was useless on many occasions. There is no doubt in my mind that Romanov was looking for some excuse to get rid of the manager."

For his part, Burley maintained his choice of agents was based entirely on the quality of the players they suggested and their efficiency and integrity.

In the end, it reached the stage where something simply had to be done as far as Romanov was concerned. He got his wish, and the excuse he had been waiting for, following the monthly board meeting on Friday, October 14. Although Vladimir was not present, Roman Romanov relayed to his father the content of the meeting and informed him what was said in the boardroom. "At every board meeting, Phil would provide his fellow directors with a report on what was happening at the club - that was his duty as CEO," explained Foulkes.

"At this board meeting [14 October], Phil mentioned in passing - almost as an aside - that he had been made aware of a couple of comments relating to George and drink, and it would be worth keeping an eye on the situation. As soon as Phil had finished saying this, Roman picked up on it and said, 'We must do something about this. We can't have that.' I thought his response was very strange. He hardly ever spoke at these meetings, and then, suddenly, because of a throwaway comment, he was very active."

Anderton had been alerted to three things:

1. An employee of Hearts had mentioned to him that there was an occasion when he or she could smell alcohol on Burley's breath.

2. The media had informed the club that they had evidence of Burley's drinking.

3. Anderton was also told that the News of the World was preparing a story concerning Burley's private life - although nothing was ever printed.

Andertoninformed Burley about the media stories two days before the board meeting and told him to be careful. Anderton also checked with Steven Pressley that the players had no problems or issues . The reply came back negative - the squad loved Burley being in charge.

Vladimir Romanov flew into Edinburgh on Thursday, October 20. A morning meeting took place at Tynecastle on Friday, October 21, involving Vladimir Romanov, Roman Romanov, Sergejus Fedotovas, Phil Anderton and George Foulkes. It was suggested by the Eastern Europeans that George Burley should go to Lithuania with Vladimir Romanov for a week and undergo a health check. Anderton suggested that this might be a good thing as it would also provide the opportunity for George Burley to discuss bringing players in during the January transfer window. It was then put forward that Burley and Romanov could go in November when there was a free weekend in the SPL.

Foulkes said: "I spoke to Phil near the end of the meeting and asked him, as CEO, to explain to George what we had discussed. That was a mistake! Vladimir Romanov interjected and said, in English, "Leave it to me - I will talk to him." I asked Phil if he was content for Romanov to do this, and he reluctantly agreed.

"Phil Anderton was becoming increasingly unhappy about his role as chief executive being undermined by both Vladimir Romanov and Julija Goncaruk, among others. This task should have been carried out by Phil in his role as CEO; however, he agreed to let Romanov speak to George Burley that afternoon, fearing recriminations against him."

George Burley attended the pre-match press conference at Riccarton that Friday, as normal. That press conference turned out to be George Burley's last as head coach of Hearts. It certainly wasn't obvious to the journalists that something was amiss.

George Burley was called to Tynecastle that Friday afternoon to a meeting with Vladimir Romanov. Burley quickly found out that Roman Romanov and Sergejus Fedotovas were also going to be in attendance - three Eastern Europeans and the head coach but no Phil Anderton. George Foulkes, meanwhile, had left the club and driven back to his home in Ayr. The meeting - in Anderton's office - lasted just over two hours.

Instead of Burley being asked by Vladimir Romanov at the meeting what he thought about going to Lithuania for a week, he was told Romanov wanted him to go the following day. Burley, who has persistently denied allegations that he has a drink problem, dismissed the suggestion on the grounds that it was unnecessary and would prove disruptive to the team. Fedotovas eventually emerged from the meeting and told Anderton that Vladimir Romanov wanted to sack Burley. It was explained to Anderton that all four Lithuanian directors were in agreement ; in other words, it didn't matter what Anderton and the two other Scottish directors (Stewart Fraser and George Foulkes) thought or how they voted, it was a done deal.

Phil Anderton phoned George Foulkes to update him. Foulkes said: "I received a phone call from Phil telling me exactly what had happened. I said, "WHAT? He [Romanov] can't do that. He's not even on the board!"

Phil Anderton entered his office in a bid to try and sort things out. George Burley reappeared a short time later and re-entered the room, telling Romanov he wanted to remain at Hearts and take charge of the team the following day against Dunfermline. Burley then stood up and left the room, much to Vladimir Romanov's annoyance.

Phil Anderton followed Burley out of the room and into his car. Burley suggested a compromise agreement would be in the best interests of both parties because his positionwas now untenable. This would ensure that the Romanovs or any other Hearts director would not be able to make public allegations that might besmirch his character, while he would not be able to talk to newspapers about the interference from above and the breakdown of his relationship with Romanov.

Phil Anderton went back to his office and outlined Burley's suggestion. Anderton then suggested that Burley continue to take charge for the match against Dunfermline to allow everyone time to reach a compromise. At this point, Vladimir threw his toys out of the pram! Romanov disagreed with Anderton's recommendation, claiming that Burley was 'poisoning the team' and was 'wrong for the club'. He told Anderton, 'Burley MUST go - he must go NOW!'

From that point, Anderton's days at Hearts were numbered - Vladimir Romanov now regarded him as an enemy as much as an employee. Romanov demanded loyalty from his staff - he expected his chief executive to be devoted to him, not to the head coach.

The board rubber-stamped that George Burley would not be in charge of team affairs for the Dunfermline game. They also sanctioned a compromise agreement to be drawn up to include a confidentiality clause and compensation - it would be negotiated between Phil Anderton and Burley's agent. But Anderton's dismissal the following week meant nothing was ever signed. Burley's claim for compensation was eventually dropped in October 2006.

"We agreed we should make a joint announcement - the famous 6pm statement - but I was unhappy I had to inform the media that the decision had been mutually agreed," said Foulkes. "A number of people who saw me make that statement knew I wasn't happy doing so. I simply explained that I, perhaps, was not a very good actor."

• BELIEVE! HEARTS: FROM TURMOIL TO TRIUMPH AT TYNECASTLE by Mark Donaldson and Gary Mackay is published by Mainstream, 15.99 hardback. To order your copy postage and packing free, contact: www.mainstreampublishing.com

• MARK DONALDSON is Sports Editor of Radio Forth and Gary Mackay works as an agent after a record 640 games for Hearts.