Source: Team_Talk
Romanov: Why I had to sack JJ
Vladimir Romanov claims he had to take the "difficult" decision to remove Jim Jefferies as Hearts boss because the Scot refused to accept help.[LNB] Jefferies was replaced by former Sporting Lisbon coach Paulo Sergio this week three games into the season.[LNB]Hearts secured draws away to Rangers and Hungarian Europa League opponents Paks before losing at home to Dundee United, but Jefferies paid the price for a run of one win in 15 matches stretching back to last season.[LNB]Hearts finished third in the Scottish Premier League thanks to their impressive record in the middle part of the campaign, and were badly hindered by the loss of striker Kevin Kyle to a hip injury in January.[LNB]Jefferies was allowed to bring in four players of his own choosing this summer, including striker John Sutton, but Romanov was not impressed by the start to the season or the Scot's reluctance to work with a foreign coach.[LNB]Speaking through an interpreter, Romanov told BBC Scotland: "Even at the end of last season, we had this discussion. I told him we were playing typically Scottish football - long balls in front.[LNB]"Players are not creating, they are not playing good passes, we need to bring someone in who can help to change this for the better.[LNB]"We offered many times to find someone who can help him with the European game.[LNB]"Maybe he took it as an insult but that wasn't the purpose. We were trying to help, we were not looking to replace anyone, just trying to add."[LNB]The Lithuanian-based businessman added: "Getting to Europe is a big achievement and obviously we are grateful to Jim for that.[LNB]"It was very good to work with him, we had a very good working relationship. To change the manager was a difficult moment.[LNB]"It was a hard time but when I think about the situation, after the last 15 games, there were not a lot of good results and it was something we had to do.[LNB]"The final decision was the Dundee United game. We lost 1-0 but it could have been 3-0."[LNB]Romanov told the Hearts players this week that he wanted them to win the league but he would not specify what success was for the club.[LNB]"It depends on a lot of things but there must be progress in the team," he added.[LNB]"We have fantastic players, Rudi Skacel and Mehdi Taouil, who are capable of creating, but they are not able to do that, they are playing individually. I see there is no progress, the game is not attractive."[LNB]Hearts director Sergejus Fedotovas, Romanov's most trusted official at Tynecastle, was more forthcoming about what is expected of the team.[LNB]In an article on the club's official website, Fedotovas said: "Based on the team that we have, we do not want to settle for a compromise in the league or Europe.[LNB]"Why should we accept top six or third place as success? Why should we be conditioned to accept this?[LNB]"Is it right that we are conditioned to accept that only two clubs can be allowed to win the league in the way they have been allowed to do for the last 26 years?[LNB]"This season we want to challenge for the top and we want our people to have this mentality.[LNB]"The new manager has this mentality and we are sure this is achievable."
