Even now, with Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs having pushed Hearts to the brink of liquidation, the fate of the club still lies in Vladimir Romanov's hands.
Dunfermline Athletic could become the latest Scottish football club to face the wrath of the taxman after they were given just 12 days to raise £81,000 owed to HMRC.
Hearts have warned fans the club might not survive until the end of the month after being hit with a winding-up order over a tax bill of almost £450,000.