Source: FOOTYMAD
Never A Dull Moment At Tynecastle
Is there anything that Vladimir Romanov could do that would suprise anybody now? With reports suggesting the former Sporting Lisbon manager Paulo Sergio will be unveiled as the new Tynecastle chief by majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov today there are still reverberations from the surprise turn of events of yesterday. Jim Jefferies was relieved of his post and Billy Brown and Gary Locke's jobs are under review. Previous incumbent of the manager's chair at hearts, George Burley was not surprised to hear that Jefferies had been relieved of his managerial duties. Burley, who was in charge at Tynecastle for only 10 SPL games in 2005 before he left due to "irreconcilable differences" with the board, said: "Nothing surprises me in football. There are a lot of strange things which happen in football, unfortunately, and it has happened to a number of good managers. It is a shame for Jim and Billy, I know them well. I don't know what happened but Jim is a well-respected manager. But it doesn't just happen at Hearts, it happens all over these days." Romanov was in the stand at at Tynecastle on Sunday to see Hearts lose 1-0 to Dundee United which meant that the Jambos are still without a win since the 3-2 defeat of St Mirren on 19 March, a run of form which is reported to have influenced Romanov's decision. However, two draws in two difficult games at the start of the season did suggest things are improving. Former Hearts chairman George Foulkes, who left his post less than two weeks after Burley's departure in protest at the Tynecastle club's decision to part company with chief executive Phil Anderton, was disappointed by the announcement. He said: "I am shocked at the decision and the timing of it, with the second leg of the Europa League qualifier this week. But I have come to expect the unexpected with Vladimir Romanov. If he comes up with a replacement who is generally accepted to be brilliant, then I'm sure the Hearts fans will rejoice but the record of past managers doesn't give much hope. But I'm absolutely sure the Hearts fans will get behind the team in the Europa League game."
