Could Romanov be of a mind to press a former Hearts 'rebel' into service?

Football Writer

Tuesday 12 June 2012

AT least Vladimir Romanov doesn't appear to bear a grudge.

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Graeme Macpherson

The Hearts owner has fallen out with a list of people the length of his arm during a tumultuous seven-year period in charge at Tynecastle but it seems he is not one to let personal altercations get in the way of business.

Romanov was fiercely critical of Andy Webster when the defender decided he was going to leave the club in 2006 going as far as to criticise Webster's parents, while there was a similar fall-out with Rudi Skacel and his agent. Both were subsequently welcomed back to Hearts several years later as if nothing untoward had ever taken place. It is a benign stance that may offer hope to Paul Hartley and Steven Pressley. The pair, who along with goalkeeper Craig Gordon were to become known as "the Riccarton Three", incurred the wrath of Romanov for making a public statement revealing there was "significant unrest" in the Hearts dressing room because of the manner in which the club was being run. Romanov didn't take this apparent insubordination well. Pressley was released from his contract, Hartley was sold to Celtic, while Gordon was dropped from the team before being subsequently sold to Sunderland. Now Hearts are on the lookout for yet another manager and Hartley and Pressley are both in the frame. Hartley enjoyed a dream first season in charge at Alloa Athletic, winning the third division title, while Pressley continues to draw praise for his work with a youthful Falkirk side. With Hearts gearing up for a period of downsizing, the pair would be ideal candidates to usher in an era of austerity."I don't think [what happened before] would stop [Romanov]," said the 29-year-old Gordon, who was released by Sunderland at the end of the season and is looking for a fresh challenge, preferably in the Barclays Premier League. "That's in the past now. I don't think it ended too badly for myself and Paul. The club got good money for both of us and we parted on reasonable terms. I don't think there would be any problem in either of them going back. "Hopefully, they would get the time to build a new, young squad. Hearts have let a few players go and it would be nice to think one of the ex-players would get the chance to go back in there and do that. It's going to be a difficult job and the fans are going to have to be patient and give them time to build a new squad and bring a few of the younger players through to be first-team regulars."I don't think it's too big a jump for Paul," added Gordon. "Craig Levein did something similar when he started out at Cowdenbeath and then got the Hearts job from there. So I think it is possible. The success Paul has had at that level will have built his confidence. It was always going to be difficult going from playing to management but he now knows he can do it."Pressley, on the other hand, is someone who always seemed destined for management. Gordon nods in affirmation. "Absolutely. You could tell that by the way he captained his teams. He was always an ideal candidate to go into management and has had some good success bringing in young players, which the job at Hearts may entail, and improving them as players then selling them on. He has done a very good job in his short time at Falkirk."Craig Gordon was at Hampden to help promote Weatherseal as the SPL's new official home improvement partner.

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Could Romanov be of a mind to press a former Hearts 'rebel' into service?

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