Vladimir Romanov has recently revealed that Steven Pressley and Paul Hartley were not the only individuals from Hearts that Celtic had shown interest in during his tenure at the Edinburgh club.
Romanov’s time at the helm of Hearts was marked by controversy and turbulence, notably during George Burley’s brief and tumultuous 12-match stint as manager. When the 2005/06 Scottish Premier League season began, Hearts were in a neck-and-neck battle with Celtic at the top of the table. However, Burley’s departure, which at the time was labeled as a sacking, is now being presented by Romanov as a resignation. This revelation has left Hearts fans speculating about what could have been, given that Burley’s record during his short tenure was an impressive nine wins, two draws, and just one loss.
Not long after Burley’s departure, key Hearts players Steven Pressley, Paul Hartley, and Craig Gordon organized a press conference to voice their discontent with Romanov’s management style, which was creating tension within the club. Pressley and Hartley would eventually make the move to Celtic, and Craig Gordon would go on to become a Celtic legend, famously part of the team that achieved the “Invincibles” status. However, according to Romanov, Celtic’s interest in Hearts players extended beyond these three.
In an interview, Romanov shared that Celtic had previously offered contracts to Pressley, Hartley, and Gordon. But the former Hearts owner also stated that Celtic was interested in manager George Burley and two other players—Rudi Skacel and Roman Bednar—who were also targets for the Glasgow giants. Although Pressley and Hartley eventually made the move to Celtic, Romanov’s story highlights that there could have been even more of an influence from Hearts at Celtic Park.
Romanov recounted an intriguing conversation he had with Craig Gordon during this period. He claimed that he told Gordon, “Your contract is running out, and I know Celtic has made you an offer, but you’ll end up being their second-choice goalkeeper, not the first. If you stay and sign with us, I promise you’ll play in the English league.” When Gordon laughed and didn’t take him seriously, Romanov responded by offering him a blank contract, encouraging him to write whatever amount he wanted. Gordon, apparently in disbelief, filled in a substantial figure that Romanov said was unprecedented in both Hearts and Scottish football. Romanov then signed it and handed it back to Gordon, ensuring his stay at Hearts for a little while longer.
This account by Romanov sheds light on the behind-the-scenes dealings and the shifting power dynamics in Scottish football during that era, especially involving two of the country’s biggest clubs, Hearts and Celtic.
Celtic’s manager at the time, Gordon Strachan, had arrived at the club shortly after Burley’s departure from Hearts. Strachan’s four-year tenure at Celtic was highly successful, winning three Scottish Premier League titles and guiding the team to the last 16 of the Champions League twice. On the other hand, Burley went on to manage Scotland between 2008 and 2009, handling 14 matches, while Strachan would lead Scotland from 2013 to 2017, overseeing 40 matches during his time.
Romanov’s revelations add another layer to the already complex and controversial history of Hearts during his ownership, with his decisions continuing to shape the club’s legacy in ways that are still being discussed and debated by fans and pundits alike. It also casts a new light on the transfer and managerial dynamics that helped define Scottish football in the mid-2000s.
