As a player Hearts fans had to wait over half a season to see one of our highest earners pull on the famous maroon jersey. He came with a big reputation but was never given any opportunities until late on in the season after a row between Romanov and Andy Webster’s over Webster’s contract. Webster agent told him not to sign a new deal and Romanov made an example of Andy by not letting him play for the rest of the 05/06 season.
This same situation happened to Ibrahim Tall this season when Vlad offered him a take it or leave it contract extension. Tall rejected the wage cut and was told that he would not play for the club again.
This led to Tall leaving the club at the end of the season however he did not go quietly. He branded Romanov a “dictator” as well as calling him arrogant over the way that he dealt with the situation. This does open the eyes of the fans. We wanted Romanov and now we have him. Anyone who thought the ride was going to be easy is greatly mistaken. Talls outburst is just one of many that have come about the way that the club is being run.
Anthony Basso has claimed that Romanov banned Stevie Frail from playing him after he refused to sign another deal and since that day Basso didn’t even make the bench. But the problem goes further back than that. The Riccarton three was a proof enough that the club was not being run correctly. Paul Hartley, Stephen Pressley and Craig Gordon spoke publically to the press about the internal problems that were occurring at the club. All three have since been sold on to Celtic and Sunderland respectively. On top of this we have heard countless managers saying that they have not had control of the team and of signings. Tall was just the latest in a long line of unsatisfied former employees of Mr Romanov.
Tall was part of the Scottish Cup winning side and also helped Hearts achieve second place in the SPL.
Tall is the third player to leave the club following Roman Bednar; who also fell out with Romanov, and Neil McCann departed as Hearts have began to build for next season.
