dwide as Crayola brought waxy coloured crayons onto the market
Friday April 27 2007
11
Vlad
to
H
bright
will lead
future
us
Legend Mackay ‘positive’ after meeting Romanov football adviser Varanavicius
EARTS legend Gary
going forward is of paramount environment and players going to other
Mackay says he is
By SIMON COX
importance.” Despite bankrolling Hearts clubs find the transformation dif
“very positive” about
planetsimon@btconnect.com
to Scottish Cup success and a second first – but he knows they are talented
ficult at
the club’s long-term
football players.”
future under Vladimir
the last two seasons while Hearts
place in the SPL
as the top part of a pyramid structure
Romanov has indicated he sees Hearts
Romanov after face-
continue to be dogged by suggestions
handling of the club has often drawn
last season, Romanov’s
Romanov picks the team.
criticism.
which also includes Lithuanian champs
to-face talks with one of the
FBK Kaunas and MTZ Ripo of Belarus,
Lithuanian’
who is president of the Lithuanian
Varanavicius, an-ex Hearts director
that the Lithuanian has no intention of
Yet having heard Varanavicius reiterate
Football Federation, claimed Romanov’
walking away
that there is a long-term strategy in place
, Mackay said he’s satisfied the two other clubs under his control.
long Hearts fan met with Romanov’
The former Jambos midfielder and life
s closest allies.
-
influence on selection is minimal while
s
to make Hearts a major football force. provide a flow of talent to Hearts – and
The Baltic teams are expected to
football adviser, Liutauras V
s key
Mackay conveyed his belief that control
after last Saturday’s game and raised
aranavicius,
of playing matters must be placed in the
for the club is long term and that’
He added: “I think Mr Romanov’
s what
s vision Mackay can see the benefits.
issues concerning the majority share-
hands of a “football man”, with stability
we all have to understand. there is a view of how the youth can be
He said: “From talking to Liutauras
holder
in the coaching set-up vital.
internal structure and team selection.
’s plans for Hearts, the club’s
I’m delighted they’re trying to get things
Mackay said: “On the business side
club and allowed George Burley to bring
“When he came in and invested in the developed not only at Hearts but at the
in players like Rudi Skacel they showed
other clubs in which Mr Romanov has an
640 appearances from 1980 to 1997
And Mackay, who made a club record
sorted at
the Old Firm can be conquered – and
interest.
and was a prominent supporter of
“My main thoughts were on the
Tynecastle.
they were to a certain level last year
your own players is the way forward.”
There’s no doubt that developing
the Save our Hearts campaign of 2004,
footballing side and I said that, though
“Since then we’ve lost some senior
.
said the meeting had helped allay a lot
the job that the guys are doing now
players, and that made me wonder how
throw down a challenge to the Old Firm
While Mackay believes Hearts could
of his concerns.
has to be applauded, in the long term
the structure needs strengthened in
they were going to continue to challenge
next season he also stressed the need
the Old Firm. But when you look at some
for a sense of realism in the short term.
want what I’d like to see myself, and that
Mackay said: “Ultimately I think they
terms of numbers and so that there is
of the youngsters the club has brought in
is success in the long term for Hearts.
leadership from the top.
eyes the leadership has to come from
And in my
– not only Scottish players but also from
place and the right people take the team
He added: “If the right structure is in
further afield – they’ll help take the club
forward, I think things will be better
stand now what is trying to be achieved
“I feel I’m in a better position to under-
a footballing person.
on.
one negative is that there’s not a huge
. The
in coming years. Everybody knows
He added: “My own opinion
There are a lot of positives.” window at this time for the club
mistakes have been made – Liutauras
made in conjunction with Mr Romanov
“I can understand decisions being
is that I’d rather it was a
making more money
knows it too – but ultimately the vision
having knowledge of what’
long term situation. I don’t
“The revenue streams
.
is to make Hearts a successful club and
but, ultimately, if you’re going to run
s going on
think we’ll do things
will be less if the club
I’m very hopeful things will continue to
a football club it has to be someone
overnight. I’m glad
stays at
develop in the future.
with a football background who helps
to develop and take the club forward.
there is a long term
while redevelopment
Tynecastle
plan to not only
takes place.
of other fans would like to have asked.
“I was there to ask questions I felt a lot continue to develop
“The big thing I took
The meeting was positive and I felt very
does not pick the team. I think we’ve all
“Liutauras made it clear Mr Romanov
youngsters in the first
from my chat was
positive after in the sense of what the
known that but, what he does do
team just now and those
that we must be
long-term future holds.
– because he is the main investor in
in the academy but also
I’ll be taking.
That’s the view
the club – is he wants clarification why
to continue to bring in
our aims are short
realistic in what
bruises along the way but Mr Romanov
There will be bumps and
certain players are selected – and I think
maybe eastern Europeans
doesn’t like to fail in anything he does.
that’
a football club more often than not
s only natural. Anybody who owns
and players from the
various factors, and
term because of
Balkans. One or two maybe
that (the redevelopment
as much backing as I can.”
“I hope he does succeed and I’ll give
would want that as well.
haven’t been up to
of Tynecastle)
scratch, but
is a major
Romanov took control and the business
The high turnover in coaches since
hope things (regarding the head coach
“Liutauras was honest and said they
Liutauras
one.”
man’
-
position) will move forward, but there is
made
been a source of grievance for some.
s influence on team affairs have
no time scale and it’
the
The Jambos chief has overseen the
the right person, whoever that may be,
s about making sure
point
departures of three head coaches in
is brought in – and I agree totally with
that. We both agreed that stability in
it’
KEY
new
s a
V
laid out
arana
MAN:
vicius
plans to
Gary Mackay
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