FORMER Hearts chairman George Foulkes today urged Vladimir Romanov to prove he is a man of his word by fulfilling the promises he made to the club when he first took control.
Lithuanian banker Romanov has fallen from grace in the eyes of many of the club's supporters following a string of off-field problems, spats with key players and the club's eighth-place finish in the SPL last season.
In a bid to build some bridges
following complaints about the number of foreign players currently plying their trade at Tynecastle, Romanov issued a statement in January of this year, saying that he would pull out all the stops to bring in a top-rated British manager at the helm.
So far, only Mark McGhee is the only home-based boss to have been linked with the position though and Foulkes believes it is time Romanov came good – or faced the wrath of the fans.
He believes that one of the first steps Romanov should take is to show face in Edinburgh after a long absence and said: "We have now reached the stage where something has to be done. The statement about bringing in a British manager was made back on January 1 and we are now six months on from that date.
"The team have already reported back for pre-season training, yet there is still no indication of when there will be an appointment made.
"I know, having spoken to a lot of them, that the supporters are growing increasingly frustrated at the way Mr Romanov has been carrying out his business.
"And I think it is astonishing that the owner and the chairman of the club spend so little time in Edinburgh and are now at very few matches.
"They have a commitment to the club and I think it is about time that they showed it and proved that they are willing to fulfil the promises that they made to the club and its supporters when they first took over.
"People say that speaking to him or taking some kind of action will not work because he just doesn't listen to anyone. But there are still people within Tynecastle – Lithuanian and Scottish – who must make it their responsibility to try to make him listen to them."
Foulkes added of the decision to place interim head coach Stephen Frail on gardening leave on the first day of pre-season fitness testing: "The way that he has treated Stephen Frail has been nothing short of disgraceful."
The full article contains 426 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
