Vladimir Romanov has grown bored of his Hearts experiment as an investment of tens of millions of pounds failed to change the side from mid-table strugglers into a team capable of something Motherwell seem able to do on significantly less.
Romanov wanted to transform Hearts into the biggest club in Scotland but failed to address the structural limitations of the club. While Hearts may be the biggest team in Edinburgh, Edinburgh is a net exporter of football fans, Tynecastle is squeezed into a cramped corner of the city and provides very little opportunity to harvest corporate income, and, in case you haven’t noticed, there were two well-established competitors in a larger, net-import city with ample corporate income opportunities.
Various Hearts boards have looked to relocate the club or extend facilities at Tynecastle without much headway being made. A bid of £22m was received from a house builder for the stadium some years ago but without a viable alternative the deal stalled.
A viable alternative could come onto the market soon.
If Rangers go out of business Romanov is in a unique position to take advantage. Craig Whyte holds a floating charge on Ibrox and Murray Park but any bid in excess of his liability, which would be considerably less than the value of the properties, which have a book value of £139m, would secure both pieces of real estate.
Hearts could sell Tynecastle and Hearts training ground, raising enough funds to considerably offset what they would need to pay to secure Ibrox, if not provide a surplus, and establish foothold in the Glasgow market to complement their historical Edinburgh fan base. One club would have a pull on a huge proportion of Scotland’s two largest cities.
At a stroke Romanov would ensure his club were for all time, at the very least, the second largest team in Scotland, and, eventually, could push Celtic for top spot.
It would be a ballsy move, but if you want to create a super-club you need to think a little creatively.
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Distressing and almost surreal news about Paul McBride. That a seemingly fit and healthy man in the prime of life can die so suddenly like that is shocking. The Celtic family have lost an eloquent, sharp mind and all round good guy. RIP.
Wow the Paul McBride thing has stunned me and reports of a conspiracy to murder him. What is happening in the funked up world we live in. So who wants first go at “a conspiracy” I have expressed my sadness at this loss to us all and i know he would have had a lot to say with the legal ramifications of the on going storm when it comes to head.
KLV
Rest in Peace Paul Mc Bride, what a shock to hear this news, a young man in his prime.
You won’t be surprised to hear the darkside have already started with sick comments..
Some things never change.
SP
Yeah, Thanks Mort. Stunned mate.
put the dessert jokes on hold today gents, a good man has died.
KLV
Don’t give them your time starry, did u expect anything else amigo?
KLV
Totally shocked by the news about Paul McBride, poor man. I’ll say a prayer for him and his family.
James Forrest is The Emperor of Ice Cream on 4 March, 2012 at 13:10 said:
Move along that limb a bit and pass me some ice cream..
I’m not going to be hypocritical, I didn’t particularly like Paul McBride he wasn’t my cup of tea.
However, at a time when the rest of the country sought to attack Celtic and Lenny especially, he was prepared to stand up for him. He will always deserve some credit and respect for that.
Truly awful news for those who cared for him may he rest in peace.
Whats this about Paul McBride? Been working my way from the start.
kevinlasvegas on 4 March, 2012 at 14:48 said:
——————————
I think the two men charged with conspiracy to murder is about the parcel bomb trial – not his death.
RIP Mr McBride
My thoughts are with your family.
They should be comforted by the fact that during his life he made a difference and had a positive impact.
Tragically though, cut short too soon so it brings only little comfort at this sad sad time.
EKBhoy
What about the ENIC? £32m was it? What happened to that? It wasn’t a dift.
kevinlasvegas on 4 March, 2012 at 14:50 said:
You’re right Kevin after all these years I shouldn’t expect anything else…
Sad sad news…
SP
Auld heid
BBC BREAKING NEWS: Scottish lawyer Paul McBride QC, who two men are accused of conspiring to murder, dies in Pakistan. More soon.
KLV
Sorry. Gift.
Cannot believe the news about Paul McBride QC.
Very brave man who’s work for our beloved club put him in the firing line of many an idiot.
Respect and wishes to his loved ones.
R.I.P Paul McBride.
ah Davidopoulos, thanks mate, damn cut and paste function. ; )
KLV
Shocked at the news of Paul McBride.
If your reading this Paul, thank you for all your hard work over the past couple of years, you were truly inspirational, and gave us a few laughs too!
RIP Paul
Thoughts with Mr McBrides family and friends.
Didnt always agree with Paul McBride on all things Celtic related as has been well documented on these pages. But that is shocking news that he has passed away.
RIP.
MWD
Vale Bhoy
ENIC lost their shirts, your investment may go down as well as up!
ENIC got their fingers burnt, that’s all that happened.
Strategycfc
R.I.P. Paul McBride. Always a shock when a sudden death like this occurs.
Taken in what seemed the prime of his life and at the top of his profession.
Let’s keep football/ conspiracies out of this in respect to his family.
So not only do the huns support a club that doesn’t pay its taxes to the crown they also revel in the death of one of the queens counsel.
RIP P McB.
He prosecuted a brutal abduction case a number of years agow where I was the liaison officer.
He dealt brilliantly with the family of the victim.
A very decent man.
RIP Paul McBride.
A very sad day. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
You’ll never walk alone.
geebee1978 on 4 March, 2012 at 14:27 said:
ibleedgreenandwhite…..
I often lurk but rarely post but you have me intrigued. I missed JF’s post and would love to know what it was that offended you so.
you sound like someone fishing matey
PMcB
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-17250107
James Forrest – respect.
Paul McBride RIP
Sad news about Paul McBride. RIP
Larsson and McStay,
Didn’t make 10 mass, so haven’t figured out who ye ur yet!!
Shocking news, Paul RIP,a man who defended our Club and our Manager, when notable others remained silent.
Tim Malone Will Tell on 4 March, 2012 at 14:34 said:
That is the problem but the play-off home ties and a final that also generates more TV income and ticket money would help off-set that. The money from the SPL which is going to distributed in a pyramidal model in future will result in decreases anyway. more competition and less familiarity will drive match day income which is the biggest revenue stream in Scotland. Celtic generate more match day income as it stands than many top European teams. But as you suggest reverting back to the old league cup format would also increase the number of games if required.
I’ve still not been to Ibroke for an Old Firm game probably never will now :)
Hail Hail
Tragic
STV
A lawyer who two men are accused of conspiring to murder, along with Celtic manager Neil Lennon in an explosives plot, has died.
Paul McBride QC died in his sleep in a hotel in Pakistan, a spokesman for the family said.
A statement issued by Jack Irvine on behalf of Mr McBride’s family said: “Paul died in his sleep last night in a hotel in Pakistan and at this time we would ask you to respect the privacy of his family.
“There will be no further statement in the meantime.”
Mr McBride was appointed a QC at the age of 35, said to be the youngest QC ever appointed in the UK.
He was called to the Scottish Bar in 1988 and has been involved in many high-profile criminal cases in Scotland.
He was on a business trip at the time of his death.
Mr Irvine added: “I understand Paul was found dead in bed this morning. He had been in Pakistan for a few days and I am uncertain when he was to return to Scotland.
“The family have asked that they are not troubled at this distressing time.”
Sad day.
scottishleaf
thanks again for that info
much appreciated
that’s a shocker about Paul…RIP