Vladimir Romanov hits out at 'inexcusable' Hearts finish

HEARTS owner Vladimir Romanov has launched a severe attack on his team's "inexcusable" late-season form, and demanded explanations for a run of results which he believes took place in "wicked" circumstances.

In a statement posted yesterday on the club's official website, www.heartsfc.co.uk., the Lithuanian businessman said he had been left "worried and wary" by the poor sequence of results, which saw Hearts win only once in their last dozen league games. The Tynecastle club still finished third, but that place was in jeopardy until the last two weeks of the season thanks to a spirited finish to the campaign by Dundee United.

Romanov made it clear in his address to the supporters that he was pleased, overall, by the third-place finish. But his unwillingness to forget the late collapse could herald a difficult close season for any members of the playing or coaching staff who are saddled with the blame for it.

"The regular football season in Scotland has ended with Hearts in third place and I want to thank everyone who made efforts to achieve the result: the team, coaches and staff of the club and especially the supporters, who faithfully continue to believe in the club," Romanov began. "The team has shown a good result this season, but it was disappointing at the end when we were fighting for one of the top places in the league. It's hard to believe that our team who won against every opponent in the league, succeeded only once in the last 12 games.

"This trend makes me worried and wary. The circumstances surrounding such results are undoubtedly wicked. There are no excuses for it and we have to fight it. I'm waiting for suggestions and information from those who may have some information on what the reasons were for the weak end to the season."

The typically opaque language used by Romanov leaves his statement open to a variety of interpretations, particularly in the light of remarks he made earlier this month as the race for third place became uncomfortably tight for Hearts. "The behind-the-scenes fight by football mafia structures for the third place in the table started long ago," he said.

Romanov did not specify who he regarded as being members of the "football mafia", but the implication was clear: an effort was being made from outside the club to deny their bid to finish best of the rest behind the Old Firm. In the case of his latest statement there is no explicit mention of outside sources, but his use of the word "wicked" leaves room for the inference that he fears something more than mere loss of form was the cause of his club's poor results over the last couple of months.

To many observers of Scottish football, there were three factors which contributed to that loss of form, none of which could be attributed to wickedness.

First, the loss for the rest of the season of Kevin Kyle after the striker was injured in January forced Hearts to change their style of play, as well as depriving them of a player whose mere presence on the pitch was often an inspiration to his team-mates. That loss was exacerbated by injuries to other first-team regulars.

Second, once the club's challenge to the Old Firm was effectively ended by a 4-0 defeat at Celtic in late January, a loss of morale was almost inevitable.

And third, the sizeable lead which Hearts held over Dundee United also had a demotivating effect. Romanov also arguably provided his own contribution to Hearts' problems when he decreed that goalkeeper Marian Kello should be dropped from the squad. It has yet to be revealed why the banker took this action against a player who was the most consistent member of the team over the course of the season.

On a less contentious note, Romanov also mentioned some of the problems which had got in the way of his planned redevelopment of Tynecastle, and which have led the club to publish a questionnaire asking supporters about possible alternatives to the ground. "It's also time to decide what the future of the stadium will be," he continued. "We are doing everything possible to stay at Tynecastle but we may not be able to remove the planning obstacles that are in our way - health and safety hurdles.

"Therefore, we are asking for your opinion on how you see the future of the club's stadium. I hope that the supporters and local authorities will support development plans, because there's no future for the club without a new stadium."