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Vladimir Romanov, a Russian born Lithuanian businessman, initially acquired 19.6% stake at Hearts during the 2004–05 season. After Romanov made financial guarantees, his stake increased to 29.9%, which was welcomed by a fans representatives. Romanov eventually increased his majority share in Hearts to 82%. Romanov no longer has any links to HMFC as both Ukio Bankas and UBIG have become insolvent. His shares are held by the liquidators of UBIG. An arrest warrant has supposedly been issued in his name to answer a number of irregularities in the accounts of both Ukio Bankas and UBIG. ==Background and takeover== Hearts, like many other Scottish Premier League clubs, ran into severe financial difficulties during the early part of the 2000s. An assessment by PWC in the autumn of 2003 found that Hearts, along with four other SPL clubs, were technically insolvent. Dundee and Livingston subsequently went into administration, while Hibs and Dunfermline both took drastic measures to balance their finances, cutting their player budgets severely〔Grahame, Ewing. ( Dunfermline players stall over pay cut ), ''Daily Telegraph'', 9 February 2004.〕 and selling assets.〔(Hibernian Comment on Land Sale ), Hibernian official site.〕 Hearts also cut their player budget and, more significantly, proposed to sell Tynecastle to eradicate the club's debt.〔 The fans protested against the latter course of action, forming a group called ''Save Our Hearts''. Hearts made a deal with the Scottish Rugby Union to use Murrayfield Stadium in order that they could sell Tynecastle.〔 Originally this was meant to happen during the summer of 2004,〔(Murrayfield share agreed ), BBC Sport, 9 February 2004.〕 but was then delayed for a season.〔 During this period, Hearts were a public limited company. Ownership of the club was very fractured, with no individual shareholder owning more than 20% of the club. This meant that minority shareholders, including supporters' groups〔(Hearts consult on move ), BBC Sport, 13 February 2004.〕 and the McGrail brothers,〔('Save Tynecastle' plans revealed ), BBC Sport, 9 January 2004.〕 could realistically hope to acquire other minority stakes in order to block the proposals to sell Tynecastle.〔〔 In August 2004, Hearts made a deal to sell Tynecastle to Cala Homes (a housing developer), but the deal had an escape clause which meant that Hearts could withdraw from the deal before 31 January 2005 if a viable alternative could be found.〔(Hearts fans vent their fury ), BBC Sport, 13 September 2004.〕 Vladimir Romanov had shown interest in investing in Scottish football for some time because he wanted to see whether Lithuanian footballers could prosper abroad.〔(Hearts in takeover talks ), BBC Sport, 31 August 2004.〕 Scottish football clubs were particularly ripe for takeover due to their weak finances and corporate structures.〔Conn, David. (The problem at Hearts is the trouble with British football ), ''The Guardian'', 9 November 2005.〕 He made approaches to Dundee United,〔(Who is Vladimir Romanov? ), BBC Sport, 1 November 2005.〕 Dundee〔 and Dunfermline,〔 but these were all rejected.〔 He opened negotiations with the board of directors to invest in Hearts during August 2004.〔 Romanov offered the prospect of the club staying at a redeveloped Tynecastle,〔〔Campbell, Alan. (Romanov confirms he aims to stay at Tynecastle ), ''Sunday Herald'', 3 October 2004.〕 which was very attractive to Hearts supporters.〔(Consortium aims to gazump Romanov ), BBC Sport, 26 January 2005.〕 Board chairman George Foulkes pleaded that the shareholders should not scare Romanov away by demanding too much for their shares.〔(Foulkes' plea for Hearts ), BBC Sport, 22 September 2004.〕 Chief executive Chris Robinson, who had been the chief proponent of the necessity of selling Tynecastle, agreed at the end of September 2004 to sell his 19.6% stake to Romanov.〔(Robinson sells Hearts stake ), BBC Sport, 30 September 2004.〕 Romanov called an extraordinary general meeting in January 2005 so that the club could pass a motion to exercise the escape clause in the deal with Cala Homes.〔(Hearts edge closer to home stay ), BBC Sport, 7 January 2005.〕 The backing of Leslie Deans〔 and the McGrail brothers〔 meant that the motion was passed with over 70% support.〔(Hearts warn ground could still go ), BBC Sport, 11 January 2005.〕 The sale of Robinson's shares was completed on 2 February 2005〔(Romanov takes control at Hearts ), BBC Sport, 2 February 2005.〕 after Romanov made financial guarantees that the club could continue to trade without selling Tynecastle.〔(Hearts give takeover green light ), BBC Sport, 29 January 2005.〕 This sale increased Romanov's stake to 29.9%,〔 giving him effective control of the club.〔 Romanov's takeover was welcomed by a fans representative.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Vladimir Romanov's ownership of Heart of Midlothian F.C.」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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