Foulkes hits back at Romanov
The Romanov family were expected to respond today after Hearts’ former chairman George Foulkes accused majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov of behaving like a dictator.
Foulkes, just over a week after being “bounced into sacking” manager George Burley, resigned last night in protest at the decision to dismiss chief executive Phil Anderton.
Lithuanian businessman Romanov subsequently installed his son Roman as chairman and acting chief executive at Tynecastle, and it is the new man in the hot-seat who was set to face the media at a 1pm press conference.
Romanov senior rescued Hearts from a perilous financial situation when he invested in the club but Foulkes is now angry at how he is wielding his power.
Foulkes told BBC Radio Four’s Today programme: “I brought in Vladimir Romanov and I am very much regretting that now.
“Phil Anderton has only been there six months and done a very good job – ask anyone in Edinburgh, ask anyone in Scotland.
“Not only were we top of the Scottish Premier League, our season tickets had doubled and we were planning ground expansion.
“Vladimir Romanov is behaving like a dictator and if he continues to do that there will be a revolution against him.”
The present turmoil at Hearts began when Romanov increased his shareholding two weeks ago and Burley left soon after following a disagreement with him.
Bobby Robson has been heavily tipped to succeed Burley in the week since but Foulkes claims he would not be surprised if the former England boss was no longer interested.
“I’m still regretting that we were bounced into sacking George Burley,” he added. “I think that was a very big mistake.
“I know Bobby Robson was lined up as one of the front-runners but I wouldn’t be surprised if he was having second thoughts.”
Foulkes accepts that Romanov has now taken charge at Tynecastle but hopes he will not remain at the club for long.
He said: “I’ve still kept my season ticket and I’m going to be there on Saturday.“I think we should be there because Heart of Midlothian Football Club is greater than anyone – and it’s certainly bigger than Vladimir Romanov.
“I hope that someone else in the longer term might come in and take over but at the moment Vladimir Romanov is the only option.”
Foulkes dismissed Romanov’s claims that he and chief executive Phil Anderton had failed to meet expectations as “manifest nonsense“.
Through a spokesman, Romanov had claimed of Foulkes and Anderton: “They have had over one year and not been able to do the things I’ve wanted to do for Hearts.
“They have had the funds and all my energy but I’ve not had the response I’ve wanted.”
However, Foulkes hit back telling BBC Radio Scotland: “That is manifest nonsense.
“I’m a non-executive chairman who has been there for 18 months, not the year that he talks about.
“I brought him (Romanov) in because he was going to put some money in.
“Phil Anderton had done a good job and in fact Romanov himself said that in the share offer document that is due to go out on Thursday.
“He wanted to keep the management team and keep the board because we were doing so well and now he is completely changed what he is saying. It is outrageous and is untrue.”
Hearts interim manager John McGlynn admits to being “shocked and stunned” by the latest day of controversy at Tynecastle.
McGlynn, who was left in charge of the Gorgie side after George Burley left just over a week ago, said: “I’m shocked and stunned and at the moment I don’t know how it’s going to impact on me.
“It’s hard to take in. Phil seemed to be the one who was trying to get a new manager in.
“That’s what we were led to believe he was doing. But where does that leave us now?”
