Romanov Podcast by martin geissler ( updated )

[kingantti1874]

3 hours ago, Absolute Scenes said:

His actions did not show that. He wanted players to be played so that they made HIM money not hearts. He was a maniac 😂

not convinced on that.  Could’ve sold Hartley but he certainly wanted the glory. 

[No Idle Talk]

Graham Rix came off as being a bit creepy in his interview. His chat about the gorgeous blonde and ‘I wanted nothing to do with that after the trouble I had been in’ just came off as odd. Then checking his drink because he thought he was going to be drugged. Again, odd.

 

Definite weird vibes off that guy.

[JJ1984]

1 hour ago, kingantti1874 said:

not convinced on that.  Could’ve sold Hartley but he certainly wanted the glory. 

Aye for £200k, we then got an amazing two years from him before he let him go for more than £1m more.   Before he lost the plot some of the initial deals (of course Craigy too) were actually really good business sense.   Didn't we sign Rudi on a permanent for around £300k on the Aberdeen champions league night and sell for £1.6 to Burley a couple months later also? 

[tian447]

Had a listen to the Rix episode whilst walking the dog. 

 

Whatever you think of what he did, or what he is like as a person, the fact remains that he was our manager and he was associated with the club. Rightly or wrongly (and it's heavily in the wrongly camp) he was part of the club at the time of the Romanov saga. 

 

However, I don't think he said anything particularly offending in his part of the interview and gave a fairly candid perspective on what happened. Doesn't shy away from the things that made us squirm when he was announced and didn't try and deflect.  The comments about being skeptical of being drugged and the uncertainty around what was happening when presented with an opportunity out of the blue must have been a genuine fear when his name was already dirt. 

 

Like I said, it happened. We don't have to like it, but there's no point in trying to pretend that it didn't.

 

I'm looking forward to the next episode. 

[Kennedy Bakircioglu]

I'm loving the series so far. It's bringing back all sorts of feelings and memories. Martin has done a tremendous job. Wish they'd hurry up and release the next episodes though!

[copa-mundial]

Must admit to have really enjoyed the 4 episodes so far. 

Martin has done extensive work in getting people to tell their side of the Romanov years. 

 

First episode when Levein speaks, when he went he joined as manager first time round. I'd love to have known the players then who were on 10k per week. That's fascinating. This I didn't know from the time. 

 

As it then progresses, its been great hearing from Bednar, Hartley, Pressley, Jankaunkas, Feditovas, Charlie Mann. Been a great listen. 

 

Also couldn't believe that Romanov gave Rix the same salary as what Burley was on. No wonder his wife reacted the way she did 😂

 

Can't wait for the next episodes. Been brilliant up to now. 

[Ricardo Quaresma]

On 10/02/2025 at 14:49, Absolute Scenes said:

Just finished episode 4. I’m becoming more and more incensed with how utterly chaotic and psychotic Romanov was. Really was an absolute nut job who had no sentiment towards hearts whatsoever and blew the greatest chance any team outside OF had of winning the league. Despite the 2 cups, he really was an arsehole

 

The Burley dismissal, rix appointment and selling the school site were snide and atrocious, unforgivable actions, plus picking the Team

 

Apart from that, mostly tolerable; he knew we'd be fine after he left, so I don't get any claims to the contrary

 

On 10/02/2025 at 17:26, Diadora Van Basten said:

I can’t remember Petras or Straceny. Also bit disappointed they didn’t go into more detail of the Celtic New Year game as that was my abiding memory of that season. With Fyssas sent off and Pressley being taken out by Lennon and off the pitch when they equalised.

 

I'm assuming all of that's to come in the later episodes

[Absolute Scenes]

On 10/02/2025 at 17:26, Diadora Van Basten said:

I can’t remember Petras or Straceny. Also bit disappointed they didn’t go into more detail of the Celtic New Year game as that was my abiding memory of that season. With Fyssas sent off and Pressley being taken out by Lennon and off the pitch when they equalised.

I remember in a match, one of them was brought on as a sub, and the sub was then subbed later on in the match.  iWhat’s funny is both barely featured and yet I’m sure Petras ended up at the World Cup with Slovakia. Remember seeing him tackle

someone and couldn’t believe a guy this bad for us had still made it to the heights of the World Cup. 

[Star Lizard]

On 11/02/2025 at 13:17, copa-mundial said:

First episode when Levein speaks, when he went he joined as manager first time round. I'd love to have known the players then who were on 10k per week. That's fascinating. This I didn't know from the time. 

Adam , Niemi , Fulton and Flogel would be my guess 

[RENE]

On 11/02/2025 at 01:09, tian447 said:

Had a listen to the Rix episode whilst walking the dog. 

 

Whatever you think of what he did, or what he is like as a person, the fact remains that he was our manager and he was associated with the club. Rightly or wrongly (and it's heavily in the wrongly camp) he was part of the club at the time of the Romanov saga. 

 

However, I don't think he said anything particularly offending in his part of the interview and gave a fairly candid perspective on what happened. Doesn't shy away from the things that made us squirm when he was announced and didn't try and deflect.  The comments about being skeptical of being drugged and the uncertainty around what was happening when presented with an opportunity out of the blue must have been a genuine fear when his name was already dirt. 

 

Like I said, it happened. We don't have to like it, but there's no point in trying to pretend that it didn't.

 

I'm looking forward to the next episode. 

Thought he came over quite well. Paul Hartley said the players liked him and thought he was a good coach.

[Tynecastle Valhalla]

1 hour ago, Star Lizard said:

Adam , Niemi , Fulton and Flogel would be my guess 

Adam and Niemi make sense

 

 

[Dallas Green]

5 hours ago, Ricardo Quaresma said:

 

The Burley dismissal, rix appointment and selling the school site were snide and atrocious, unforgivable actions, plus picking the Team

 

Apart from that, mostly tolerable; he knew we'd be fine after he left, so I don't get any claims to the contrary

 

 

I'm assuming all of that's to come in the later episodes

What school site?

[Dagger Is Back]

Rix was an absolute creep. Went to Tynie to an evening with, and thought then  we’d made a bad decision. 

 

Shocking appointment and couldn’t care less how good a coach he was and whether the players quoted, loved him

or not. 

He shouldn’t have been anywhere near our club.

Romanov was a fruit loop. The only reason some laud him is because we survived, which was zero thanks to him IMO. 

 

He took us to the absolute brink. Won’t ever forget those days thinking what can we do to help? Cake sales, kids emptying their piggy banks, auctions, family days, folks selling off memorabilia. 

 

It took us as a fanbase to unite and save our club otherwise we’d be dead and he’d be wherever the @@@@ he is not giving a toss.

 

 

 

 

[jbee647]

On 11/02/2025 at 13:17, copa-mundial said:

Must admit to have really enjoyed the 4 episodes so far. 

Martin has done extensive work in getting people to tell their side of the Romanov years. 

 

First episode when Levein speaks, when he went he joined as manager first time round. I'd love to have known the players then who were on 10k per week. That's fascinating. This I didn't know from the time. 

 

As it then progresses, its been great hearing from Bednar, Hartley, Pressley, Jankaunkas, Feditovas, Charlie Mann. Been a great listen. 

 

Also couldn't believe that Romanov gave Rix the same salary as what Burley was on. No wonder his wife reacted the way she did 😂

 

Can't wait for the next episodes. Been brilliant up to now. 

Petric, Adam, Jackson/ McSwegan and or Niemi and Tomascheck, definitely 4 out the 5 on or around 10k a week

 

Edited February 14, 2025 by jbee647

[Sherbet]

5 hours ago, Dagger Is Back said:

Rix was an absolute creep. Went to Tynie to an evening with, and thought then  we’d made a bad decision. 

 

Shocking appointment and couldn’t care less how good a coach he was and whether the players quoted, loved him

or not. 

He shouldn’t have been anywhere near our club.

Romanov was a fruit loop. The only reason some laud him is because we survived, which was zero thanks to him IMO. 

 

He took us to the absolute brink. Won’t ever forget those days thinking what can we do to help? Cake sales, kids emptying their piggy banks, auctions, family days, folks selling off memorabilia. 

 

It took us as a fanbase to unite and save our club otherwise we’d be dead and he’d be wherever the @@@@ he is not giving a toss.

 

 

 

 

robinson would have killed us had vlad not arrived

[Philfigo]

Really enjoyed the series so far, would be great if George Burley had his say!

[briever]

Just finished episode 4 - really enjoying it so far.

 

What a team - but what a complete bam Romanov was destroying it all.

[Shooter McGavin]

8 hours ago, Dagger Is Back said:

Rix was an absolute creep. Went to Tynie to an evening with, and thought then  we’d made a bad decision. 

 

Shocking appointment and couldn’t care less how good a coach he was and whether the players quoted, loved him

or not. 

He shouldn’t have been anywhere near our club.

Romanov was a fruit loop. The only reason some laud him is because we survived, which was zero thanks to him IMO. 

 

He took us to the absolute brink. Won’t ever forget those days thinking what can we do to help? Cake sales, kids emptying their piggy banks, auctions, family days, folks selling off memorabilia. 

 

It took us as a fanbase to unite and save our club otherwise we’d be dead and he’d be wherever the @@@@ he is not giving a toss.

 

 

 

 

Staying at Tynecastle, and winning 2 x Scottish Cups, might have something to do with it as well to be fair

[kingantti1874]

9 hours ago, Dagger Is Back said:

Rix was an absolute creep. Went to Tynie to an evening with, and thought then  we’d made a bad decision. 

 

Shocking appointment and couldn’t care less how good a coach he was and whether the players quoted, loved him

or not. 

He shouldn’t have been anywhere near our club.

Romanov was a fruit loop. The only reason some laud him is because we survived, which was zero thanks to him IMO. 

 

He took us to the absolute brink. Won’t ever forget those days thinking what can we do to help? Cake sales, kids emptying their piggy banks, auctions, family days, folks selling off memorabilia. 

 

It took us as a fanbase to unite and save our club otherwise we’d be dead and he’d be wherever the @@@@ he is not giving a toss.

 

 

 

 

on I think we all Understand the negative. Whatever his motivation, it clearly wasn’t a deliberate.  It was trigger by the global financial crisis which dragged down his bank.  Who by that point held our debt that he had transferred.  Clearly he didn’t want his bank to go under.  That’s aside - again a we know the negatives.  A complete narcissist, mad.

 

however, he also quite literally saved us from the biggest disaster in the history of the club, gave us some great times on the pitch, AND was the only owner in our history, in fact the only owner in the history of Scottish football to call out the SFA. Referees and the Media for what they actually are.  
 

It’s possible to reflect fondly on the early years and be angry at what transpired. 

[JudyJudyJudy]

On 11/02/2025 at 01:09, tian447 said:

Had a listen to the Rix episode whilst walking the dog. 

 

Whatever you think of what he did, or what he is like as a person, the fact remains that he was our manager and he was associated with the club. Rightly or wrongly (and it's heavily in the wrongly camp) he was part of the club at the time of the Romanov saga. 

 

However, I don't think he said anything particularly offending in his part of the interview and gave a fairly candid perspective on what happened. Doesn't shy away from the things that made us squirm when he was announced and didn't try and deflect.  The comments about being skeptical of being drugged and the uncertainty around what was happening when presented with an opportunity out of the blue must have been a genuine fear when his name was already dirt. 

 

Like I said, it happened. We don't have to like it, but there's no point in trying to pretend that it didn't.

 

I'm looking forward to the next episode. 

Yes naturally he was going to be curious and wary of meeting with Vlad for obvious reasons and remember the media then were always up to some sort of stings on celebrities so he was right to be cautious. However he was basically a patsy for Vlad as Vlad.

[JudyJudyJudy]

Listened to all 4 episodes and enjoyed it  . Very insightful .

[Wee Mikey]

1 hour ago, JudyJudyJudy said:

Listened to all 4 episodes and enjoyed it  . Very insightful .

 

Aye, but those bleedin' pan pipes, man. 🤮

[Leveinthedream]

when should we expect the next one?

[jvm32]

33 minutes ago, Leveinthedream said:

when should we expect the next one?

Being released every Saturday I believe, one episode a week.

[LogicalEric]

14 hours ago, jbee647 said:

Petric, Adam, Jackson/ McSwegan and or Niemi and Tomascheck, definitely 4 out the 5 on or around 10k a week

 

Correct along with Fitzroy Simpson. Bar Niemi we made an absolute disaster on the SMG investment in 99 hence we got left with some absolute dross on big wages.

[LogicalEric]

20 hours ago, Absolute Scenes said:

I remember in a match, one of them was brought on as a sub, and the sub was then subbed later on in the match.  iWhat’s funny is both barely featured and yet I’m sure Petras ended up at the World Cup with Slovakia. Remember seeing him tackle

someone and couldn’t believe a guy this bad for us had still made it to the heights of the 

That was Straceny in a 2-1 defeat against Aberdeen at Tynie. Was genuinely like he'd never seen a football before. Absolutely dire. 

Petras wasn't much better. He was the one that apparently Vlad told Rix to pick ahead of Neilson against Dundee Utd and was absolutely diabolical. 

Obviously the guy had some ability. Had 30 odd caps for Slovakia.

[JudyJudyJudy]

1 hour ago, Wee Mikey said:

 

Aye, but those bleedin' pan pipes, man. 🤮

its the de riguere nowadays 

[Gavman81]

1 hour ago, LogicalEric said:

That was Straceny in a 2-1 defeat against Aberdeen at Tynie. Was genuinely like he'd never seen a football before. Absolutely dire. 

Petras wasn't much better. He was the one that apparently Vlad told Rix to pick ahead of Neilson against Dundee Utd and was absolutely diabolical. 

Obviously the guy had some ability. Had 30 odd caps for Slovakia.

The Algerian keeper that came in that window was the World Cup star who got away! 

[LogicalEric]

45 minutes ago, Gavman81 said:

The Algerian keeper that came in that window was the World Cup star who got away! 

Rais Mbohi 😂  sure he was signed to Kaunas then loaned to us. Can't ever recall him even being on the bench.

[Star Lizard]

8 hours ago, kingantti1874 said:

on I think we all Understand the negative. Whatever his motivation, it clearly wasn’t a deliberate.  It was trigger by the global financial crisis which dragged down his bank.  Who by that point held our debt that he had transferred.  Clearly he didn’t want his bank to go under.  That’s aside - again a we know the negatives.  A complete narcissist, mad.

 

however, he also quite literally saved us from the biggest disaster in the history of the club, gave us some great times on the pitch, AND was the only owner in our history, in fact the only owner in the history of Scottish football to call out the SFA. Referees and the Media for what they actually are.  
 

It’s possible to reflect fondly on the early years and be angry at what transpired. 

This

[Wee Mikey]

That's episode 5, "A Match Made in Hampden" available now.

[copa-mundial]

On 13/02/2025 at 22:07, Star Lizard said:

Adam , Niemi , Fulton and Flogel would be my guess 

 

On 13/02/2025 at 23:21, Tynecastle Valhalla said:

Adam and Niemi make sense

 

 

 

On 14/02/2025 at 01:16, jbee647 said:

Petric, Adam, Jackson/ McSwegan and or Niemi and Tomascheck, definitely 4 out the 5 on or around 10k a week

 

 

17 hours ago, LogicalEric said:

Correct along with Fitzroy Simpson. Bar Niemi we made an absolute disaster on the SMG investment in 99 hence we got left with some absolute dross on big wages.

Cheers guys. 

 

I was stunned when I heard Levein say there was 4 players on 10k. I actually had to rewind it back to double check that, was what he said. 

Absolutely ludicrous we were paying players that amount back then. 

 

See episode 5 is now available for listening to. 

[Tynecastle Valhalla]

Adam 

Niemi

Simpson

Petric

 

 

[kingantti1874]

1 hour ago, copa-mundial said:

 

 

 

Cheers guys. 

 

I was stunned when I heard Levein say there was 4 players on 10k. I actually had to rewind it back to double check that, was what he said. 

Absolutely ludicrous we were paying players that amount back then. 

 

See episode 5 is now available for listening to. 

and those players would be on 5 times that now

[gordiegords]

Listening to miko not wanting to take a penalty and laughing about it also made me chuckle 😆

 

also how good were David begg and alistair Alexander as commentators, really great to listen to on a match day.

 

[kingantti1874]

Valdas was a good guy eh!! Good manager to boot

[Perth to Paisley]

Zico may well be a Celtic fsn but you can tell he loved his time with us.

 

Might have been good to reflect  why he got sent off in the 2006 Final ... imho it was 100% down to frustratation with cheat/liar Dougie McDonald not awarding Rudi a cast iron penalty in the last minute of extra time.

[kingantti1874]

3 minutes ago, Perth to Paisley said:

Zico may well be a Celtic fsn but you can tell he loved his time with us.

 

Might have been good to reflect  why he got sent off in the 2006 Final ... imho it was 100% down to frustratation with cheat/liar Dougie McDonald not awarding Rudi a cast iron penalty in the last minute of extra time.

I’ve never ever watched that game back.  Only the pens and the goal 

[Drylaw Hearts]

5 episodes dedicated to 2005/06……I’m guessing it could have been 50 episodes.

 

 

[John Findlay]

26 minutes ago, kingantti1874 said:

I’ve never ever watched that game back.  Only the pens and the goal 

Should have been out of sight at half time.

Still not convinced the penalty they got in the second half was a penalty.

MacDonald cheated that day, no question about it in my mind.

I was in the posh seats in the South stand and my late father had to calm me down as I was going ballistic at Dougie MacDonald.

Townsley should have seen Red with Hartley as he kicked him first which MacDonald saw. So was Karma when Craig Gordon saved his penalty.

[Bunny Munro]

Vlad treated a lot of people badly, embarrassed club a number of teams, and we would have won the league if he just let people do their jobs (and not necessarily in 05-06).

 

However I fully believe without him we might not have a club to support, certainly not a top flight team, and no Tynecastle to play at. At best we'd be some league 1 jobbers playing at Murrayfield.

 

Add in two cup wins (including the 4-0 semi and the 5-1 final), splitting the OF, champions league, watching greats like Janky, Fyssas, Rudi (two spells), and Bednar play for us, having the balls to kick out Celtics miserable offer for Hartley, and I land on the side that Vlad should be held in high regard, regardless of how it ended.

 

[kingantti1874]

1 hour ago, John Findlay said:

Should have been out of sight at half time.

Still not convinced the penalty they got in the second half was a penalty.

MacDonald cheated that day, no question about it in my mind.

I was in the posh seats in the South stand and my late father had to calm me down as I was going ballistic at Dougie MacDonald.

Townsley should have seen Red with Hartley as he kicked him first which MacDonald saw. So was Karma when Craig Gordon saved his penalty.

I was south as well and also got in trouble, The old fella in front of me may have taken offence at my choice of words to describe Macdonald

[The Old Tolbooth]

On 10/02/2025 at 23:32, No Idle Talk said:

Graham Rix came off as being a bit creepy in his interview. His chat about the gorgeous blonde and ‘I wanted nothing to do with that after the trouble I had been in’ just came off as odd. Then checking his drink because he thought he was going to be drugged. Again, odd.

 

Definite weird vibes off that guy.

I thought exactly the same, he’s an absolute oddball of a guy like, a proper creepy ****er! 

[copa-mundial]

Episode 6 now available. 

The synopsis sounds very intriguing. 

 

[WASTREL]

On 10/02/2025 at 23:05, kingantti1874 said:

not convinced on that.  Could’ve sold Hartley but he certainly wanted the glory. 

Another "low ball" offer from Celtic though.  

[GinRummy]

On 15/02/2025 at 20:16, ScottieMac17 said:

Same could be said about vlad until Budge arrived and she isn't the most popular person...

Aye both are true though. I think the difference is Budge wanted to make the club stable and financially secure first and foremost. Just my take though. 

[WASTREL]

On 14/02/2025 at 00:54, Dagger Is Back said:

Rix was an absolute creep. Went to Tynie to an evening with, and thought then  we’d made a bad decision. 

 

Shocking appointment and couldn’t care less how good a coach he was and whether the players quoted, loved him

or not. 

He shouldn’t have been anywhere near our club.

Romanov was a fruit loop. The only reason some laud him is because we survived, which was zero thanks to him IMO. 

 

He took us to the absolute brink. Won’t ever forget those days thinking what can we do to help? Cake sales, kids emptying their piggy banks, auctions, family days, folks selling off memorabilia. 

 

It took us as a fanbase to unite and save our club otherwise we’d be dead and he’d be wherever the @@@@ he is not giving a toss.

 

 

 

 

Share those emotions 100% .... Its guys like  Gary Halliday and the initiial team who pulled together our plan and worked tiirelessly alongside the Liquidators that are my heros

[ƒιѕнρℓαρѕ]

2 hours ago, WASTREL said:

Share those emotions 100% .... Its guys like  Gary Halliday and the initiial team who pulled together our plan and worked tiirelessly alongside the Liquidators that are my heros

 

There won't be many to disagree with that, but Tynecastle would be houses if Romanov hadn't stepped in.

 

Without him where were we going? Tynecastle would be gone but we'd still in debt, we even had to bear the cost of demolition! We would be tenants in a stadium 4 times our normal crowd, tenants at a training ground, the team was in decline, the fans becoming increasingly febrile, little in the way of sellable assets anywhere.

 

With Tynecastle gone, how were we coming out of that tailspin?

 

The end was brutal but Romanov saved Tynecastle. Those aren't just words, he ****ing saved Tynecastle!

 

Yes, other people had to do it again years later, but without Romanov, there was nothing to save.

Edited February 22, 2025 by ｕｎｋｎｏｗｎｕｓｅｒ

[Geoff Kilpatrick]

11 minutes ago, ｕｎｋｎｏｗｎｕｓｅｒ said:

 

There won't be many to disagree with that, but Tynecastle would be houses if Romanov hadn't stepped in.

 

Without him where were we going? Tynecastle would be gone but we'd still in debt, we even had to bear the cost of demolition! We would be tenants in a stadium 4 times our normal crowd, tenants at a training ground, the team was in decline, the fans becoming increasingly febrile, little in the way of sellable assets anywhere.

 

With Tynecastle gone, how were we coming out of that tailspin?

 

The end was brutal but Romanov saved Tynecastle. Those aren't just words, he ****ing saved Tynecastle!

 

Yes, other people had to do it again years later, but without Romanov, there was nothing to save.

And in turn saved the club at that point. Just look at what happened to Airdrie when they became nomads.

[Ked]

23 minutes ago, ｕｎｋｎｏｗｎｕｓｅｒ said:

 

There won't be many to disagree with that, but Tynecastle would be houses if Romanov hadn't stepped in.

 

Without him where were we going? Tynecastle would be gone but we'd still in debt, we even had to bear the cost of demolition! We would be tenants in a stadium 4 times our normal crowd, tenants at a training ground, the team was in decline, the fans becoming increasingly febrile, little in the way of sellable assets anywhere.

 

With Tynecastle gone, how were we coming out of that tailspin?

 

The end was brutal but Romanov saved Tynecastle. Those aren't just words, he ****ing saved Tynecastle!

 

Yes, other people had to do it again years later, but without Romanov, there was nothing to save.

True.