Hearts fans want Romanov explanation
John Borthwick, secretary of the Federation of Hearts Supporters Clubs, is looking for Vladimir Romanov to explain another controversial day at Tynecastle which ended with both chief executive Phil Anderton and chairman George Foulkes leaving the Edinburgh club.
This latest chapter in an on-going Tynecastle saga follows on from the departure of manager George Burley just over a week ago due to “irreconcilable differences” with the Lithuanian businessman who recently increased his stake in the club to 55.5% with a view to eventually buying up all the shares.
After Foulkes followed Anderton out of the door, majority shareholder Romanov then immediately installed his son, Roman Romanov, into both posts.
Borthwick claims the shocked Jambos fans need to be told exactly what is going at the Gorgie club.
He said: “I’m stunned and I think the fans need answers as to Mr Romanov’s plans for the future.
“I heard Mr Romanov has said the chief executive has not delivered what was expected of him but we have record season ticket sales, we were unbeaten in 12 games before Saturday, the club was being marketed like never before so what I would like to know is, what was expected?
“We’ve talked about Mr Romanov arriving like a knight in shining armour last season when we thought Tynecastle was going to be sold but we need to know why we have lost a manager, a chairman and a chief executive in the last week or so.
“A lot of people will see those course of events taking place since Mr Romanov took his shares in the club up to 55.5%.
“There are four supporters’ associations and we have had regular meetings with Phil Anderton.
“But now I would like Mr Romanov to explain to us what is going on.
“Have the goalposts moved? Does he plan to fill the whole board with Lithuanians?
“Only Vladimir Romanov can answer those questions and we need a statement put out in the next 24 hours.
“Of course he doesn’t need to explain himself because of the power he now has at Hearts but he has to realise that the fans are the lifeblood of the club.”
