Over the past 3 years Vladimir Romanov has overlooked his revolution. A stint that has seen 8 managers come and go and a host of Lithuanian’s who have been shiped in. He came in and was immediately loved by the Hearts fans. He saved the club from having to move away from our spiritual home to Murrayfield; a 67,000 seater that Hearts wouldn’t even half fill.

 

He wiped the clubs debts by consolidated them in his own bank; Ukio Bankas. Everything seemed to be going well for Hearts and Vladimir who was exciting the fans with talk of the Champions League and splitting the Old Firm in the coming seasons.

 

His first three signings were a sign of things to come. He brought three Lithuanian internationalist; Saulius Mikoliunas, Deividas Cesnauskis and Marius Kizys. Miko and Chesney set the league alight in there early days with exciting wing play. We were the Chelsea of Scottish football; we had a foreign investor and wingers who could swap positions with each other. Things were looking up. We had also secured the services of Lee Miller and Mark Burchill. Somewhat of a dream team you could argue. What could possibly go wrong?

 

Well nothing yet. The summer saw the departure of Hearts Legend John Robertson as manager and Hearts were linked with a number of high profile managers; including “the tinker man” Claudio Ranieri. In the end George Burley arrived through the gates of Tynecastle and brought with him a host of exciting players. European Championship winner, Takis Fyssas, Rudi Skacel, Julian Brellier, Champions League and Uefa Cup winner Edgaras Jankauskas, Roman Bednar, Michael Pospisil and Steve Banks all joined him. This was added to the always solid backbone of Scotland internationalists Craig Gordon, Steven Pressley, Andy Webster and Paul Hartley. A team to truly challenge the Old Firm whose stranglehold on the top two spots has gone on long enough.

 

It couldn’t have started any better either. Hearts were clear at the top after winning our first 8 games and being unbeaten in 10 including a win against Rangers thanks to a Roman Bednar goal and were getting a point at Parkhead courtesy of a Rudi Skacel’s goal under Burley’s reign. Hearts were playing the best football in years blowing teams away in the opening 25 minutes of games and fans were daring to dream that maybe this would be their year.

 

However things started to get complicated as hours before Hearts were due to play Dunfermline they released a statement saying that Heart of Midlothian had parted company with George Burley due to irreconcilable differences. The fans were in shock, what was going on. No one could understand why we had sacked someone who had us playing attractive free flowing football. On the day Hearts won the game 2-0 and the player’s uncovered t-shirts saying “For the gaffer”. Something was badly wrong. What had Burley done to upset Romanov? Had he dared to pick the team by himself? Rumours were rife with claims that Romanov did not appreciate the way that Julian Brellier played when in fact he was the glue in the midfield that was allowing Skacel, Hartley and Miko to attack at will. An incident in the Celtic game was another rumour that Romanov was not happy with his manager. Burley did not bring on Mikoliunas for Brellier and therefore settling for a point.

 

Shortly after this Romanov sack Phil Anderton and this was followed by the resignation of George Foulkes. These gaps were filled by Vladimir’s son Roman and Sergetus Fedatovs. It wasn’t only change in the boardroom but Andy Webster’s agent announced that he would not be signing a new contract with Hearts. This spelt the end of his Hearts career as Webster was not to feature again for Hearts.

 

Suddenly we were searching for a new manager and the same big names came up. Ranieri, Scela, Matteus, Bobby Robson etc. Did we go for one of these high profile managers? Of course we didn’t we hired Graham Rix, a man with very little experience and Jim Duffy to play the role of Director of Football. Rix brought negative football and naive tactics to Hearts along with 11 new players of which he had a say in about two of them arriving. He was quickly out of the Tynecastle revolving door and was replaced by one of Romanovs yes men, Valdas Ivanauskas. Ivanauskas had previously managed Romanovs other team FBK Kaunas but was brought in to steady the ship.

 

By this point results had turned sour and Hearts title challenge basically came to an end on new years’ day when Celtic came back from two nil down to win three two thanks to some dubious refereeing decisions. Fyssas’s sending off comes to mind when there were plenty of covering defenders and two extremely soft free kicks that were awarded. I know what you’re thinking, typical bitter Hearts fan but we have had some shocking decisions go against us.  

 

The title may have been out of reach but second place was still very much up for grabs. While we were faltering and stumbling over the line Rangers were gathering momentum. We simply couldn’t let second place go. And we didn’t thanks to a very special night at Tynecastle. A full house for Aberdeen with the Champions League at the end of it if we could win. On a tough night were you could cut the tension with a knife Hearts didn’t look like they would have enough to beat the Dons. Fortunately the goal finally came from the ever capable boot of Paul Hartley who scored from the spot.   

 

Vlad had delivered as unbelievable as it was. Ok we didn’t win the league but to come second was a huge achievement.

 

Next up was the cup final against Gretna. The first time we had been back to the final since 98. Again it was a nervy occasion after Gavin Skelton had equalised from Rudi Skacel opener. It was backs to the walls and saw Robbie Neilson shoot to Hearts legendary status when he somehow tackled the Gretna forward when it seemed for certain that we would fall behind. It went to penalties and by this time no one in the stadium had any nails left to bite. But all’s well that ends well as the cup came home to Gorgie for the first time in 8 years.

 

You’d think let’s build on this. But, no that’s not the Hearts way. Lets’ dismantle our team and bring in players who are not up to the same standards as those who came before them.  Out went the likes of Skacel, Brellier and Fyssas, and in came Pillabitis, Ivaskevicius and Karipidis. Fair enough Karipidis has come on to a game now but he wasn’t up to much when he first arrived.

 

The season was a disaster on and off the pitch as Hearts crashed out of both the Champions League and the Uefa Cup at the final qualifying rounds. These games were marred by more bad refereeing decisions. Bruno Aguair was sent off for moving the ball an inch in the first leg against AEK which we had led through a Sauly Mikoliunas goal. On top of this Julian Brellier saw red for wearing an earring in the second leg. We finished fourth and therefore did not qualify for Europe.

 

This was the year of the Riccarton three who came out with a statement saying that Vlad had to stop meddling in team affairs. This lead to inspirational captain Steven Pressley and goal scoring midfielder Paul Hartley leaving the club for rivals Celtic.

 

The lack of Stability continued as Ivanauskas left the club due to stress. He was replaced by Eduard Malofeev who somehow managed to win no games in his tenure. The media believed that Hearts would be given a new Lithuanian manager in Eugenijus Riabovas but to every one’s surprise Ivanauskas returned. He did not last long though and was quickly moved upstairs to become director of football. He was replaced by Anatoly Korobochka but he could not save Hearts season.

 

The season which has just passed has been an unmitigated disaster with key players such as Craig Gordon and Roman Bednar being moved on without any investment being put back into the squad.

 

So the question has to be asked was it worth living the dream for one glorious season. I for one wouldn’t have traded that season for anything in the world. However looking at us now is embarrassing, we have become a joke and must sort it out.

 

Mr. Romanov we need your money more than ever and a top class manager that you will allow to have full control over team affairs. It is the only way forward.

 

 Romanov revolution signings

2005

·     Saulius Mikoliunas

·     Marius Kizys

·     Deividas Cesnauskis

 

2005/06

·     Edgaras Jankauskas

·     Roman Bednar

·     Rudi Skacel

·     Takis Fyssas

·     Julien Brellier

·     Ibraham Tall

·     Steve Banks

·     Sammy Cammazola

 

January transfers 05/06

 

·     Juho Makela

·     Lee Johnson

·     Chris Hackett

·     Jose Goncalves

·     Tomas Kanchelkis

·     Bruno Aguair

·     Martin Petras

·     Ludek Staceny

·     Mirsad Beslija

·     Neil McCann

·     Tiago Costa

·     Barasa

 

06/07

·     Kestis Ivaskevicious

·     AndriusVelicka

·     Marius Zaliuskas

·     Christos Karipidis

·     Linas Pillabitus

January 06/07

·     Arkadiusz Klimek

·     Eduardas Kurskis

·     Lareya Kingston

·      

07/08

·     Anthony Basso

·     Audrius Ksanavicius

·     Michael Stewart

·     Ricardus Beniusis

·     Ruben Palazuelas

·     Martin Rapinek

·     Christian Nade