Vladimir Romanov's title dream behind reshuffle

The Tynecastle club's budget has been slashed since the Lithuanian businessman's early years as owner, but Romanov still sees the championship as a realistic aim. Club captain Marius Zaliukas said yesterday that Romanov had addressed the players on Monday after deciding to appoint Paulo Sergio in place of Jefferies, and his desire to win the league was the principal topic of conversation.

"Vladimir Romanov held a meeting with the players on Monday and he told us that he wants to win the SPL and that he was disappointed last season," Zaliukas said. "That is his stated aim to win the title. He has said that is what he wants, so we will need to see what happens in eight months."

A long unbeaten run over the winter months saw Hearts put in their best challenge for several seasons, although in the end they were well adrift of Rangers and Celtic in third place, winning only one of their last dozen games. They go into tonight's Europa League return leg with Paksi having failed to win in another three games since the start of this season, although a draw at Ibrox in the league and another in the first leg in Hungary were both respectable results.

Zaliukas and his team-mates had not foreseen the removal of Jefferies. "It was actually a wee bit of a surprise, because now we have a new season," the centre-half said. "He (Romanov] wasn't happy with results. The last 15 games, and we've been told that. I didn't think it was that bad results, but it's not up to us. Everyone's target is to win the league. I think every year he wants to get that title. We will see."

Romanov launched the latest in a series of outspoken attacks on some of his critics yesterday, calling them "media monkeys" and suggesting they did not understand football.