RIX WALKS INTO THE HEARTS MINEFIELD
IT WAS a bizarre day for Graham Rix. One moment he was about to be named manager of Crawley Town; the next he was unveiled as the new boss of Hearts, where he walked straight into a storm. Rix was named as successor to George Burley by the Scottish Premiership club, only for Tynecastle fans to make felt their disquiet over his appointment. Questions still remain over how much power he will wield, with his contract running only until the end of the season. The club have also admitted he wasn’t their first choice and are looking for a director of football to work above him. On top of all that, owner Vladimir Romanov says he will continue to have a say in team affairs. Rix, however, stressed that he was happy to have someone else buying and selling players. ‘I am picking the team,’ said the former Portsmouth manager. ‘My forte is working with the players, motivating them and, hopefully, winning matches. Dealing with agents and the press does not really interest me.’ Rix acknowledged that his 1999 conviction for unlawful sex with a 15-year-old girl and indecent assault had led to fans’ opposition. But he said: ‘Seven years ago I made a mistake and once I realised, I held my hands up and accepted my punishment. It was a tough time but does it mean I have to be punished for the rest of my life? ‘I saw on Saturday against Dundee United that Hearts have a fantastic support and if I am winning games, I think they will get behind me.’ But Federation of Hearts Supporters Clubs secretary John Borthwick said the appointment of the 48-yearold was ‘inappropriate’ and fans heckled the new coach as he arrived at Tynecastle. New club chairman Roman Romanov, Vladimir’s son, made approaches to Sir Bobby Robson, Ottmar Hitzfeld and Claudio Ranieri before naming Rix. The former Chelsea coach had been on the brink of taking over at Conference side Crawley having been axed from his jobs at Portsmouth and Oxford United. Rix said: ‘The fact that I went for an interview at Crawley shows that I was determined to get back into football. When I got the call from Roman, I thought it was one of my friends winding me up.’ Burley shocked Hearts fans last month with his decision to leave, complaining of interference in team affairs from the Romanovs. Asked if he expected a similar scenario, Rix said: ‘Interference, no. But I will take advice from anyone before making my own team selections. I don’t know who the new director of football is. I have said to Roman who I think will be a good choice, but Mr Romanov is the man with the money.’ Roman Romanov insisted Rix did not have to win the league to stay at Tynecastle beyond the end of the season, but the early season high flyers had to show signs of improvement.