Elliott:VladlovedtorantatJambosstars

FORMER Hearts striker Stephen Elliott has pulled back the Iron Curtain on the mad world of Vladimir Romanov.

The Russian-Lithuanian tycoon took control of the Tynecastle side in 2005 and promised great things until his reign ended in disaster with administration eight years later.

Elliott experienced first hand the methods of Romanov who sacked George Burley despite a record-equalling eight wins on the spin at the start of the 2005-06 season.

The Irishman, who was at Hearts from 2010-12, said: “The lads said it wasn’t unusual for Romanov to come to training.

“The players sat in the dressing room awaiting the chairman and his ‘mob’. It was comical looking back. Romanov would shake our hands before he spoke in a Russian-Lithuanian language. Sergejus Fedotovas translated.

“As Romanov ranted, Sergejus said, ‘The chairman is happy and if we continue competing with the top two we’d be rewarded’.

“I thought these guys are not so bad. But our captain Marius Zaliukas, who was Lithuanian, explained what Romanov was really saying. Marius said Romanov told us ‘we were all a bunch of losers and bottled it against Celtic and he wouldn’t pay the win bonuses for our successful run of games’.”

The Drogheda star told sportdec.com: “I realised these outbursts weren’t unusual during my time at Hearts.”

Romanov is currently on the run from Lithuanian authorities.