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Football Association to decided on Romanov's status
Scotland - 24 November, 2006
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Vladimir Romanov's renegade way with the Scottish Football Association's (SFA) rules may be at an end.
The SFA said it "wants to work with Hearts as one of our biggest clubs" there is concern about Romanov's way with rules on club ownership, financial activities involving his main other club, Lithuanian FBK Kaunas, and his disregard of the SFA.
On December 9, the SFA's General Purposes Committee will consider whether Romanov is actually involved with Hearts, as an SFA spokesman said the matter will be discussed at the meeting.
Romanov is the outright owner, has admitted to meddling in the club's affairs and has had a revolving door of seven managers. But, every time the SFA begins to bring down the lawbook, Romanov claims he has no official position with the club.
His lawyers argue that he is not covered by the Articles of Association, in that he has no official position within Hearts.
But the SFA changed its rules at its last AGM, specifically because they were unable to take action against him as a person who was not a director or office-bearer of a club. Romanov has never held any formal office at Hearts.
One charge is of "bringing the game into disrepute", though the underlying concern is over Romanov's dual interest in FBK Kaunas. An owner cannot be involved with two clubs anywhere in Europe.
Under the "dual interest" rules, the new "catch all" rule defines involvement as "directly or indirectly (and whether as principal, trustee, beneficiary or in any other capacity) in a club as a shareholder, holder of options over any share, holder of convertible loans or securities or any like instrument...(or) possessor of any other right of ownership or control in relation to a club."
If he admits to involvement with the club, Romanov would be subject to disciplinary action. UEFA then could take action on his dual interest in FB Kaunas.
"We can only take action on dual interests in clubs within Scotland" said an SFA spokesman.
If Romanov does not admit to involvement with Hearts, the committee will be forced to make a ruling on Romanov's exact status at Hearts and go ahead and discipline him.
The Evening News revealed that businessman Pat Munro was spearheading an Edinburgh-based group - with the help of foreign investment - that was trying to put together a package to gain a controlling interest in the club.
With the club's debt estimated at around GBP 24million, Munro's plans have been widely discounted by a large section of the club's support who don't believe he has the funds required to buy out Romanov, if Romanov was willing to sell.
It's the second time that Munro has attempted to gain a controlling interest in Hearts. He was at the centre of a failed bid in January last year.
The SFA said it "wants to work with Hearts as one of our biggest clubs" there is concern about Romanov's way with rules on club ownership, financial activities involving his main other club, Lithuanian FBK Kaunas, and his disregard of the SFA.
On December 9, the SFA's General Purposes Committee will consider whether Romanov is actually involved with Hearts, as an SFA spokesman said the matter will be discussed at the meeting.
Romanov is the outright owner, has admitted to meddling in the club's affairs and has had a revolving door of seven managers. But, every time the SFA begins to bring down the lawbook, Romanov claims he has no official position with the club.
His lawyers argue that he is not covered by the Articles of Association, in that he has no official position within Hearts.
But the SFA changed its rules at its last AGM, specifically because they were unable to take action against him as a person who was not a director or office-bearer of a club. Romanov has never held any formal office at Hearts.
One charge is of "bringing the game into disrepute", though the underlying concern is over Romanov's dual interest in FBK Kaunas. An owner cannot be involved with two clubs anywhere in Europe.
Under the "dual interest" rules, the new "catch all" rule defines involvement as "directly or indirectly (and whether as principal, trustee, beneficiary or in any other capacity) in a club as a shareholder, holder of options over any share, holder of convertible loans or securities or any like instrument...(or) possessor of any other right of ownership or control in relation to a club."
If he admits to involvement with the club, Romanov would be subject to disciplinary action. UEFA then could take action on his dual interest in FB Kaunas.
"We can only take action on dual interests in clubs within Scotland" said an SFA spokesman.
If Romanov does not admit to involvement with Hearts, the committee will be forced to make a ruling on Romanov's exact status at Hearts and go ahead and discipline him.
The Evening News revealed that businessman Pat Munro was spearheading an Edinburgh-based group - with the help of foreign investment - that was trying to put together a package to gain a controlling interest in the club.
With the club's debt estimated at around GBP 24million, Munro's plans have been widely discounted by a large section of the club's support who don't believe he has the funds required to buy out Romanov, if Romanov was willing to sell.
It's the second time that Munro has attempted to gain a controlling interest in Hearts. He was at the centre of a failed bid in January last year.
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