Mad Vlad Romanov for President!

From a KGB Rusty Submarine to FBK Kaunas to Tynecastle to Strictly Come Dancing Lithuania to Lithuanian President? It’s just another day in the life of mad Vlad Romanov.

Hearts' Owner Vladimir Romanov has taken the first steps towards becoming a candidate for Lithuania’s Presidency. The Lithuanian consulate in London stated that Romanov has put his name forward for their upcoming election.

However with the nominations set to close on Friday for the May elections, there is a question mark whether or not Romanov is eligible to stand for office. Romanov is not Lithuanian; he was born in Russia and despite winning the public vote on Strictly Come Dancing—he might not be eligible after all.

Romanov, who moved to Lithuania when he was aged nine, is presently attempting to find out whether he qualifies to stand in the election.

Charlie Mann, the former spokesman for Romanov, told BBC Scotland, “I had a couple of calls from Lithuania saying he had submitted his papers. He is hardly Barrack Obama and he does not have the political skills of our own First Minister Alex Salmond, himself a Hearts fan, but he spent a lot of time with George Foulkes, so maybe George has given him the bug.”

Silvio Berlusconi does it with AC Milan and Italy, so why not Romanov with Hearts and Lithuania. Former Hearts' midfielder Allan Preston, MP and former Hearts' chairman Foulkes had introduced Romanov to the Edinburgh club but became one of 60-year-old Romanov’s fiercest critics for his leadership style.

The former Soviet KGB submariner has been a controversial figure, since taking control of Hearts back in 2005. Romanov began his tyrannical reign promising to break the stranglehold on the Scottish title long enjoyed by Glasgow clubs, Celtic and Rangers but sacked a succession of managers as the Old Firm continued to dominate.

Through sponsorship, he also controls the Lithuanian club, FBK Kaunas and Belarusian Premier League outfit, FC MTZ-RIPO. The owner has used Kaunas as a feeder club for Hearts, who have signed a string of Lithuanian players, and former managers accused him of meddling in team affairs.

“It has been a year or so since I have worked with him closely, but in my time I worked with him he did have political aspirations. There were lots of leading Lithuanian government figures at the prestigious New Year events that Romanov runs for his business contacts. He did move in the right circles.”

The principal business interest for Romanov, who says he began his rise to riches selling bootleg Beatles records, is a substantial stake in the Lithuanian bank, Ukio Bankas. He is chairman of the bank’s parent body, UBIG Investments, which is the majority shareholder in Scottish Premier League club Hearts.

“It is an amazing story, but he is a man who, if he wants something, he often gets what he wants and achieves his goals,” said Mann. However, there must be a doubt about whether someone who is not born in the country can be president.”

Mann pointed out that Romanov had recently taken more of a back seat at Tynecastle—proof of his trust in chief executive Campbell Ogilvie and team manager Csaba Lazslo.

So, is Mad Vlad the right man to take Lithuania onto bigger and brighter things or will he cause a stooshy and start World War Three? If he is eligible and he wins the Presidency—will he now just be sick of Hearts and will the club just become another page in his portfolio?

Or is that why Hearts is doing so well now, because he isn’t interfering?