Romanov Podcast by martin geissler ( updated )

[Geoff Kilpatrick]

Episode 8 was the ultimate fast forward. Still, the 5-1 commentary of Paul Mitchell was very enjoyable.

Edited March 8, 2025 by Geoff Kilpatrick

[copa-mundial]

2 hours ago, Geoff Kilpatrick said:

Episode 8 was the ultimate fast forward. Still, the 5-1 commentary of Paul Mitchell was very enjoyable.

Aye that was my take on it as well. Went from the start of the 07/08 season, then all of a sudden we're in the 11/12 season. 

 

Last episode next week. Bryan Jackson at the end.

"I had to go into a dark room and cry."

[Geoff Kilpatrick]

1 hour ago, copa-mundial said:

Aye that was my take on it as well. Went from the start of the 07/08 season, then all of a sudden we're in the 11/12 season. 

 

Last episode next week. Bryan Jackson at the end.

"I had to go into a dark room and cry."

Also Vlad was so disinterested that he glossed over the call to JJ to drop Zal from Vlad

[No Idle Talk]

Just listened to episodes 7 and 8. In many ways they encapsulate what the Romanov era was. Some stories that blow your mind and make you realise what an egomaniac the man is, but at the same time make you laugh due to the sheer silliness of them.

 

Then there’s the dark side. The way he deliberately withheld money from the club when he lost interest. The way he left players hanging on for wages some of them desperately needed. The way him and his Lithuanian cohorts ran the club into the ground then pissed off out of the country as quickly as they could when administration could no longer be avoided. Leaving the people who really do love the club to come along and try to save it from extinction.

 

I will never understand the affection some Hearts fans seem to have for this man. I would neither shake his hand nor buy him a pint. Folk shit all over Ann Budge on here all the time. I’d have Ann Budge any day of the week and twice on Sunday over Vladimir Romanov. At least with Ann Budge I know I will have a club to support. 

[brownkg]

Regardless of it all I remain absolutely convinced that the "training run" that we a support went through in 2004/5 with SOH etc  meant that we were better prepared to deal with the fallout and the subsequent need to save the club for real.
Not disputing the mayhem he left behind but CPR had an agreement to sell Tynecastle for staggered payments to CALA and we would have been watching the U18s playing at Murrayfield and in all probability would have ceased to exist due to no crowds, no assets and fan apathy 

[gregzy2k7]

Like others have said Romanov was as mad as a box of frogs but he did deliver success and two unforgettable trouncings of H1b5 at Hampden for that alone I will always be grateful to him,

 

On the other hand, when you hear the stories about him not paying the staff and players, it does make me a little angry, especially when some of those players had mortgages and families,

 

A total mixed bag is the best way to describe it, would I do it again? you bet your arse I would, it beats being a boring, safe football club with no ambition every day of the week for me. But I can also see the other side of it that was genuinely concerning towards the end with administration and all that stuff.

[Texaco]

7 hours ago, brownkg said:

Regardless of it all I remain absolutely convinced that the "training run" that we a support went through in 2004/5 with SOH etc  meant that we were better prepared to deal with the fallout and the subsequent need to save the club for real.
Not disputing the mayhem he left behind but CPR had an agreement to sell Tynecastle for staggered payments to CALA and we would have been watching the U18s playing at Murrayfield and in all probability would have ceased to exist due to no crowds, no assets and fan apathy 

Who knows what the future would have held if Romanov had not come along. Most likely playing at Murrayfield and would we still be there now? I doubt we would have ceased to exsit. Clubs move grounds and it wasn't far away. As long as we could put a team out and afford the rent Hearts fans including myself would have turned up. I did in the 70's and 80s when we really were crap. As always it would have hinged on how good a team we had. Would we have foundered into obscurity for many years like a Dundee and Dunfermline or grown into Murrayfield as out home and achieved success - big ground, big ambitions. Anyway it's all History now. Quite happy to see my time out at Tynecastle. 

[Batistuta9]

9 hours ago, No Idle Talk said:

Just listened to episodes 7 and 8. In many ways they encapsulate what the Romanov era was. Some stories that blow your mind and make you realise what an egomaniac the man is, but at the same time make you laugh due to the sheer silliness of them.

 

Then there’s the dark side. The way he deliberately withheld money from the club when he lost interest. The way he left players hanging on for wages some of them desperately needed. The way him and his Lithuanian cohorts ran the club into the ground then pissed off out of the country as quickly as they could when administration could no longer be avoided. Leaving the people who really do love the club to come along and try to save it from extinction.

 

I will never understand the affection some Hearts fans seem to have for this man. I would neither shake his hand nor buy him a pint. Folk shit all over Ann Budge on here all the time. I’d have Ann Budge any day of the week and twice on Sunday over Vladimir Romanov. At least with Ann Budge I know I will have a club to support. 

Haven't listened yet but I'm generally on the fence. 

On one hand he saved Tynecastle, split the Old Firm, got us into the Champions League and won us two cups. 

On the other hand, he pretty much made us a laughing stock with his bizarre behaviour and his rants to the press (some of which to be fair were right!) and when he completely lost interest and withdrew all funding he very nearly put the club right back into the same position it was, maybe even worse, than when he took over. 

People moan about Budge, but we'll probably never be in that situation again thanks to her. 

 

Edited March 13, 2025 by Batistuta87

[Chuck Berry]

17 hours ago, No Idle Talk said:

I will never understand the affection some Hearts fans seem to have for this man. I would neither shake his hand nor buy him a pint. Folk shit all over Ann Budge on here all the time. I’d have Ann Budge any day of the week and twice on Sunday over Vladimir Romanov. At least with Ann Budge I know I will have a club to support. 

 

This. Hate the guy.

[Gavman81]

I don’t think he literally withheld money so to speak and it was more that the money just wasn’t there because of what was happening to his bank post crash.

 

Episode 8 is really subjective in an anti Vlad sense and the projection is certainly towards the bad side of how it ended but it could have balanced it out a little - eg,  no mention of Euro qualifications and the massive occasions v Spurs/Liverpool and also felt the 5-1 was slightly undercooked when you consider what an utterly outstanding and monumental achievement it was.

 

The pod is good but biased towards focusing on the negative for me a little too much and while I appreciate there was a lot of that towards the end, it just slightly loses sight on the good points.

 

Charlie Mann thinking it was funny bringing in bananas and coconuts to a press conference though 😬

[briever]

56 minutes ago, Gavman81 said:

I don’t think he literally withheld money so to speak and it was more that the money just wasn’t there because of what was happening to his bank post crash.

 

Episode 8 is really subjective in an anti Vlad sense and the projection is certainly towards the bad side of how it ended but it could have balanced it out a little - eg,  no mention of Euro qualifications and the massive occasions v Spurs/Liverpool and also felt the 5-1 was slightly undercooked when you consider what an utterly outstanding and monumental achievement it was.

 

The pod is good but biased towards focusing on the negative for me a little too much and while I appreciate there was a lot of that towards the end, it just slightly loses sight on the good points.

 

Charlie Mann thinking it was funny bringing in bananas and coconuts to a press conference though 😬

 

Charlie Mann does not come out of the pod well IMO.

 

Ultimately the pod could have had fewer episodes and covered just as much - but I do think it covered the madness of the time quite well.

 

I worked for a company that did some of the stock logistics etc at the time and they were terrible for paying their bills - sadly too few company discovered this until too late.

[Libertarian]

20 hours ago, No Idle Talk said:

 

I will never understand the affection some Hearts fans seem to have for this man. I would neither shake his hand nor buy him a pint. Folk shit all over Ann Budge on here all the time. I’d have Ann Budge any day of the week and twice on Sunday over Vladimir Romanov. At least with Ann Budge I know I will have a club to support. 

I feel exactly the same way. I may be wrong but I always felt that the plea for money just as we were going into administration was a scam taking advantage of supporters who cared deeply about the club. I suspect that most of that cash went directly to Romanov.

[droid]

People saying that Vlad withdrew funding.

There was a financial credit crisis, he lost pretty much everything, he never had a pot to piss in after that. 

[KennyMcP]

On 24/02/2025 at 09:45, Martin_T said:

Does anyone else quite like the backing music for the show?

I keep thinking it’s the “Come dine with me” tune.

[Shooter McGavin]

On 12/03/2025 at 23:54, No Idle Talk said:

I will never understand the affection some Hearts fans seem to have for this man. I would neither shake his hand nor buy him a pint. Folk shit all over Ann Budge on here all the time. I’d have Ann Budge any day of the week and twice on Sunday over Vladimir Romanov. At least with Ann Budge I know I will have a club to support. 

Don't understand how it has to be so black and white to be honest, both have their pros and cons.

 

Romanov

- Kept us at Tynecastle

- Split the OF, had the bollocks to call the SFA out

- Two Scottish Cups

- Some brilliant players brought to the club

- Let his ego get in the way of potentially more and bigger success

- And then ultimately his links to the banking system, and the subsequent 2008 financial crisis, was almost curtains for us

 

Budge

- Laid excellent foundations for us going forward

- Built the new stand

- 1 relegation, and a lot of money wasted

- Fair share of embarrassing situations along the way

- 0 trophies, although we've been knocking on the door

- A few years of group stage euro football

- Bringing JTA & Bloom into the fold

 

[Gerry1874]

2 hours ago, Shooter McGavin said:

Don't understand how it has to be so black and white to be honest, both have their pros and cons.

 

Romanov

- Kept us at Tynecastle

- Split the OF, had the bollocks to call the SFA out

- Two Scottish Cups

- Some brilliant players brought to the club

- Let his ego get in the way of potentially more and bigger success

- And then ultimately his links to the banking system, and the subsequent 2008 financial crisis, was almost curtains for us

 

Budge

- Laid excellent foundations for us going forward

- Built the new stand

- 1 relegation, and a lot of money wasted

- Fair share of embarrassing situations along the way

- 0 trophies, although we've been knocking on the door

- A few years of group stage euro football

- Bringing JTA & Bloom into the fold

 

Romanov trumps it for me. Unless we pull a couple of trophies out the bag soon history will have the reign of Budge as a non event.

[tartofmidlothian]

Geissler's tracked down Romanov for a brand new interview in next week's final episode!

[Stendelnator]

14 minutes ago, tartofmidlothian said:

Geissler's tracked down Romanov for a brand new interview in next week's final episode!

Holy shit that could be sensational 

[jambo-in-furness]

2 hours ago, tartofmidlothian said:

Geissler's tracked down Romanov for a brand new interview in next week's final episode!

If so, and Vlad has had access to the other episodes then I fear for Martins welfare,

[Malinga the Swinga]

8 hours ago, Shooter McGavin said:

Don't understand how it has to be so black and white to be honest, both have their pros and cons.

 

Romanov

- Kept us at Tynecastle

- Split the OF, had the bollocks to call the SFA out

- Two Scottish Cups

- Some brilliant players brought to the club

- Let his ego get in the way of potentially more and bigger success

- And then ultimately his links to the banking system, and the subsequent 2008 financial crisis, was almost curtains for us

 

Budge

- Laid excellent foundations for us going forward

- Built the new stand

- 1 relegation, and a lot of money wasted

- Fair share of embarrassing situations along the way

- 0 trophies, although we've been knocking on the door

- A few years of group stage euro football

- Bringing JTA & Bloom into the fold

 

Not to be pedantic but we haven't been relegated under her ownership. We were demoted by a vote from ***** who couldn't wait to put the boot into us.

[1971fozzy]

3 hours ago, tartofmidlothian said:

Geissler's tracked down Romanov for a brand new interview in next week's final episode!

just wow. Dynamite if this happens

[leginten]

23 hours ago, briever said:

 

Charlie Mann does not come out of the pod well IMO.

 

Ultimately the pod could have had fewer episodes and covered just as much - but I do think it covered the madness of the time quite well.

 

I worked for a company that did some of the stock logistics etc at the time and they were terrible for paying their bills - sadly too few company discovered this until too late.

A spineless, mendacious piece of shit. Paid to lie to the media and, far worse, Hearts supporters.

 

The funniest moment in the entire podcast series is when he’s asked about having to inform Robbo that he was losing his job and comes out with the immortal “I couldn’t lie…”.

[Shooter McGavin]

4 hours ago, tartofmidlothian said:

Geissler's tracked down Romanov for a brand new interview in next week's final episode!

Where have you seen this about?

 

Really looking forward to it if so!

[Geoff Kilpatrick]

Really hope this is true. Have my doubts

[Hearts1975]

On 13/03/2025 at 12:54, No Idle Talk said:

Just listened to episodes 7 and 8. In many ways they encapsulate what the Romanov era was. Some stories that blow your mind and make you realise what an egomaniac the man is, but at the same time make you laugh due to the sheer silliness of them.

 

Then there’s the dark side. The way he deliberately withheld money from the club when he lost interest. The way he left players hanging on for wages some of them desperately needed. The way him and his Lithuanian cohorts ran the club into the ground then pissed off out of the country as quickly as they could when administration could no longer be avoided. Leaving the people who really do love the club to come along and try to save it from extinction.

 

I will never understand the affection some Hearts fans seem to have for this man. I would neither shake his hand nor buy him a pint. Folk shit all over Ann Budge on here all the time. I’d have Ann Budge any day of the week and twice on Sunday over Vladimir Romanov. At least with Ann Budge I know I will have a club to support. 

Don't necessarily disagree with your points raised but that 2005/6 season, and the atmosphere/energy at home.

It literally sent shivers down the spine. Didn't matter who we played, Livi, hobos even the OF, the atmosphere was just electric. And everyone believed. 

Hard to believe it is 20 years ago coming up for, yet it still seems like yesterday. 

Take out 98 and 2012, there wasn't anything like it in all my time supporting the JT's 

 

Don't get me wrong there are times listening to that where my brain can't rationalise why he ripped it apart with Burley's sacking, because he felt he wasn't being lauded as a hero. Especially if he had left things be, he would have been revered in Gorgie for the rest of mankind. 

 

That stuff you refer to In your post. It's been and gone. Don't think we will ever experience anything like it. To see the likes of fyssas, jankauskis, bednar, brellier, Hartley and skacel playing In the same side was an absolute privilege. 

 

Like I said, not dismissing your points. The guy was an absolute mad man. That said, what would have happened to that 30 million debt and the stadium if he hadn't appeared? We needed that admin to lift the rope around our neck.

Literally. 

 

For those that say they would buy him a pint if they saw him I would buy him ten, and then buy him a case of whisky for his trip back home. Thank him for the memories and then burst out greetin asking him why he went and done it ....

 

Just my opinion 

[tian447]

8 hours ago, tartofmidlothian said:

Geissler's tracked down Romanov for a brand new interview in next week's final episode!

 

That better be the case. I love it, I take the dog out for a big walk every Saturday and listen to the 3pm matches, and then when they finish up, fire up the podcast. 

 

3 or 4 hours of football chat and only the dog for company. Utter bliss. 

 

Having Romanov himself would be sensational listening. 

[Geoff Kilpatrick]

Well, part 9 has popped up. Time to listen before qualifying for the GP.

[Geoff Kilpatrick]

Kevin Moffat and Co mentioned (not by name)! Arsehole vermin everywhere.

[Geoff Kilpatrick]

Bryan Jackson deserves a statue ahead of Vlad and Budge

[Geoff Kilpatrick]

So, provided it isn't some AI creation, episode 10 is Vlad!

[maltese jambo]

Mr. Jackson as mentioned above, deserves a lot of credit.

[Deso1972]

Those Hibs welts who wrote to Lithuania are the scum of the earth. Thick too, while they would have a laugh if we went bust, the reality of losing a local rival would eventually sink in.. it would have been the ultimate "hibs-ing". Bryan Jackson was the true hero in this debacle.

[ƒιѕнρℓαρѕ]

50 minutes ago, Deso1972 said:

Those Hibs welts who wrote to Lithuania are the scum of the earth. Thick too, while they would have a laugh if we went bust, the reality of losing a local rival would eventually sink in.. it would have been the ultimate "hibs-ing". Bryan Jackson was the true hero in this debacle.

 

I've found it an impossible listen, it's dragged out TF, and the music. Just get on with it!

 

But re. this lot, they better hope they never end up in a position where correspondence could hurt them!

[Gavman81]

8 hours ago, Hearts1975 said:

Don't necessarily disagree with your points raised but that 2005/6 season, and the atmosphere/energy at home.

It literally sent shivers down the spine. Didn't matter who we played, Livi, hobos even the OF, the atmosphere was just electric. And everyone believed. 

Hard to believe it is 20 years ago coming up for, yet it still seems like yesterday. 

Take out 98 and 2012, there wasn't anything like it in all my time supporting the JT's 

 

Don't get me wrong there are times listening to that where my brain can't rationalise why he ripped it apart with Burley's sacking, because he felt he wasn't being lauded as a hero. Especially if he had left things be, he would have been revered in Gorgie for the rest of mankind. 

 

That stuff you refer to In your post. It's been and gone. Don't think we will ever experience anything like it. To see the likes of fyssas, jankauskis, bednar, brellier, Hartley and skacel playing In the same side was an absolute privilege. 

 

Like I said, not dismissing your points. The guy was an absolute mad man. That said, what would have happened to that 30 million debt and the stadium if he hadn't appeared? We needed that admin to lift the rope around our neck.

Literally. 

 

For those that say they would buy him a pint if they saw him I would buy him ten, and then buy him a case of whisky for his trip back home. Thank him for the memories and then burst out greetin asking him why he went and done it ....

 

Just my opinion 

This is where I am,

 

For all the bad , it was absolutely worth that ride.

 

We could have died at Murryfield and Vlad put us on life support for those years- have never felt that way and had the excitement that was there those first few months of 05/06 - it was utterly goosepimple inducing excitement with a feeling that we could actually be on to something massive.

 

Would do it all again like that ( clicks fingers)

[JudyJudyJudy]

Ah god love him . He’s a survivor !!

 

 

https://www.heartsstandard.co.uk/news/25010509.vladimir-romanov-tracked-hearts-interview-bbc-podcast/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2_R80_0H0hL6dZMymLfDV071AIFwMyix1znFZJeuW4jSHaSDW55GiERfA_aem__iyUWJjhfxqdJrjHeRs3hA#

 

 

 

[JudyJudyJudy]

28 minutes ago, Gavman81 said:

This is where I am,

 

For all the bad , it was absolutely worth that ride.

 

We could have died at Murryfield and Vlad put us on life support for those years- have never felt that way and had the excitement that was there those first few months of 05/06 - it was utterly goosepimple inducing excitement with a feeling that we could actually be on to something massive.

 

Would do it all again like that ( clicks fingers)

💯 would . He’ was / is a right character . 

[weaz1981]

Wow, what an ending and cliffhanger! Was not expecting that. Can't wait for next week now.

 

 

[heartandsoul]

On 12/03/2025 at 23:54, No Idle Talk said:

Just listened to episodes 7 and 8. In many ways they encapsulate what the Romanov era was. Some stories that blow your mind and make you realise what an egomaniac the man is, but at the same time make you laugh due to the sheer silliness of them.

 

Then there’s the dark side. The way he deliberately withheld money from the club when he lost interest. The way he left players hanging on for wages some of them desperately needed. The way him and his Lithuanian cohorts ran the club into the ground then pissed off out of the country as quickly as they could when administration could no longer be avoided. Leaving the people who really do love the club to come along and try to save it from extinction.

 

I will never understand the affection some Hearts fans seem to have for this man. I would neither shake his hand nor buy him a pint. Folk shit all over Ann Budge on here all the time. I’d have Ann Budge any day of the week and twice on Sunday over Vladimir Romanov. At least with Ann Budge I know I will have a club to support. 

Agree 100%

[Rick Sanchez]

I was not expecting that ending

 

I was 'is that him?'...then Geissler said next time on the actual last episode I was like...'WHAT!?'

 

Totally blindsided by that, can't wait.

[ROCK LOBSTER]

3 hours ago, maltese jambo said:

Mr. Jackson as mentioned above, deserves a lot of credit.

He saved us and should never be forgotten. As for Vlad, he called out Scottish football as corrupt within a month, gave us 2 cups a great team, who knows where we could have gone if the madness wouldn't have set in,I tend to remember the good times under vlad times I hope  they will come back but Mr Jackson and Mrs Budge will be the ones that will deserve the credit when they do.

[gordon simpson]

On 05/03/2025 at 06:51, Mr Benn said:

Don't think this warrants a thread on its own. Steve Evans, Rotherham manager, talking about being offered the Hearts job under Romanov: 1.18-8.00 is the relevant part:

 

 

what a nice guy ,very respectful to Scottish football and Hearts ,he is also a celtic fan  

[JudyJudyJudy]

1 minute ago, ROCK LOBSTER said:

He saved us and should never be forgotten. As for Vlad, he called out Scottish football as corrupt within a month, gave us 2 cups a great team, who knows where we could have gone if the madness wouldn't have set in,I tend to remember the good times under vlad times I hope  they will come back but Mr Jackson and Mrs Budge will be the ones that will deserve the credit when they do.

We can celebrate both tenures really . Both very different 

[comradejambo]

I wonder what if he ever came back to tynecastle what the reaction would be? Would seem to be a moot point given his  arrest warrants. Would imagine some would applaud … probably most would want to lynch him! 

[19/05/2012]

18 minutes ago, comradejambo said:

I wonder what if he ever came back to tynecastle what the reaction would be? Would seem to be a moot point given his  arrest warrants. Would imagine some would applaud … probably most would want to lynch him! 

Should hate him for the way he left us but I wouldn’t change it for the world gave us memories that will live with us. 05/06 was the best team I have seen at Tynecastle and the football was a joy to watch 

[The Maroon Jacket]

2 Scottish Cups in 6 years including the 5-1 , Rudi,Takis, Burley,etc etc

A saviour when he arrived in Gorgie and part of the vehicle that got us to where we are as a club today, his trip was a rollercoaster coaster, that's entertainment 

I would love to see him return for a visit which would be box-office but it's not happening,is it?

[stirlingshirejambo]

Sensational “ending” 

one more episode and full on Romanov

 

my only gripe about this episode was don’t think it fully gave Brian McCormack and his team enough credit. They did a sensational job

[Boris5115]

1 hour ago, comradejambo said:

I wonder what if he ever came back to tynecastle what the reaction would be? Would seem to be a moot point given his  arrest warrants. Would imagine some would applaud … probably most would want to lynch him! 

The raving lunatic can't ever leave Russia due to a warrant being out for his arrest. Maybe Rodney could make an appearance and we could stone him instead. 

[JudyJudyJudy]

and who was " the pyjama man" ? very weird and actually quite concerning.

 

same with the so called masssuer " sport therapist " as well.

 

( just catching up the rest of the episodes)

 

OMG that Presley press conference...luckily  wasnt on JKB then as there wouldnt have been enough gifs to express my screamin.........

 

 

 

 

[ROCK LOBSTER]

On 13/03/2025 at 20:11, droid said:

People saying that Vlad withdrew funding.

There was a financial credit crisis, he lost pretty much everything, he never had a pot to piss in after that. 

Was the debt at the same level when vlad left as it was when he took over, I don't know just a question.

[tartofmidlothian]

3 minutes ago, ROCK LOBSTER said:

Was the debt at the same level when vlad left as it was when he took over, I don't know just a question.

 

I think it was a bit over 20m when he arrived and about 25m to 30m when he left, that's just from memory. Some people paint it as him saddling us with loads of debt when he left, but we were more or less just as ****ed when he arrived. He staved off the inevitable while giving us two Scottish Cups, second place and a bunch of the best players we'll ever see at Hearts.

 

Still a total crook who made some silly mistakes with us though.