Roman Romanov (Lithuanian businessman)
Roman Romanov (Russian: Роман Романов) (born 1976) is a Lithuanian businessman of Russian origin as well as the one time, largely absentee chairman of Scottish Premier League football club Hearts.[1] Romanov is the son of Hearts' former majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov.[1]
Roman Romanov | |
---|---|
Born | 1976 |
Nationality | Lithuanian |
Occupation | Businessman |
Romanov joined Hearts as a non-executive director on 1 February 2005,[1] after his father acquired a controlling interest in the company. Following the departures of George Foulkes and Phil Anderton on 31 October 2005, he was appointed as chairman and interim chief executive.[1][2] Hearts announced at the time that Romanov would assume the title of chief executive "on a temporary basis... pending a further appointment".[2] As of April 2009 no further appointment to that position has been made, although Campbell Ogilvie has since been promoted to the position of managing director, with responsibility for day-to-day operations of the club.[3]
Like his father, Romanov accused the Scottish football authorities of conspiring against Hearts. He stated at the club's annual general meeting in April 2008 that the Scottish Premier League was a "fixed" league and that referees had "screwed" Hearts frequently during the 2007–08 season.[4]
As his father's business empire collapsed, Romanov was removed from any link to Hearts by the purchase of the club by Ann Budge in 2014.
References
- Introducing the Board of Directors, Heart of Midlothian F.C..
- Hearts in turmoil as duo depart, BBC Sport, 31 October 2005.
- Ogilvie takes the helm at Tynecastle, The Scotsman, 15 March 2008.
- Murray, Ewan. Hearts chairman launches tirade against 'fixed' Scottish league, The Guardian, 18 April 2008.