Hartley expects Romanov to carry out transfer threat

Senior advisers to the Heart of Midlothian owner, Vladimir Romanov, will advise "mediation not madness" as the solution to the crisis which led to a players' revolt on Friday. But Romanov insisted yesterday that he has faith in his unusual methods, and senior players fear the Lithuanian millionaire intends to sell key members of his team, as he threatened he would if Hearts failed to beat Dunfermline on Saturday. They drew 1-1 at Tynecastle.

"I think it's very serious if you're going to make those statements," said the midfielder Paul Hartley yesterday. "He's got his point across and I think he'll stick by [his threat]."

Hartley was present when Romanov made the threat on Friday morning, and later joined his captain, Steven Pressley, and the goalkeeper Craig Gordon as Pressley read a players' statement saying that the club lacked "backing, direction and coherence".

Hearts finished as SPL runners-up in May and won the Scottish Cup. "What happens next is not our decision," Hartley said. "I'd like to stay but it's not up to me." He added that the players had "no plans" for further criticism. "I think we got our point across. We felt we had to say what we said."

Romanov has had four permanent managers in 17 months and has alienated all of them by his interference in team affairs. Valdas Ivanauskas, the current manager, is in a spa clinic, taking two weeks' holiday because of stress, leaving Eduard Malofeev, a Russian, in charge. He speaks no English. "I want to honestly tell you that Vladimir was never interfering in any football matters," he yelled on Saturday, via an interpreter. "I don't know where this idea comes from."

Actually, it came from Romanov, who was asked last month if he picks the team and said: "I did, and I will."

Romanov added yesterday: "I'm on course and I'm not going to be blown off. I still believe in what I'm doing and will complete the task. I know my methods surprise a lot of people in this country but I'm committed to Hearts."

Pressley expects to act as an intermediary in the coming weeks. One Romanov adviser said yesterday: "It was a car crash of a week but we have to look ahead. This group of players has huge potential for great things, so does Mr Romanov. There has to be a sensible way ahead."

* Celtic came from behind to win 2-1 at Kilmarnock yesterday and open up a 10-point lead at the top of the SPL. Colin Nish put the home side ahead early in the second half, but Shunsuke Nakamura and Kenny Miller sealed the points for Gordon Strachan's side.

* The Dundee United manager Craig Brewster has left by mutual consent, after 10 months as player-manager, following Saturday's 5-1 defeat against Falkirk.