George Burley to Celtic? Vladimir Romanov reveals manager and two other players were wanted at Parkhead

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Hearts will never know what they might have achieved under George Burley.

The former Jambos manager was unceremoniously sacked by former club owner Vladimir Romanov back in 2005 despite running Celtic all the way in the Scottish Premiership up until that point.

Hearts’ form back then was akin to Aberdeen’s earlier this term when the Dons were being considered title challengers before they fell away. Burley looked the real deal at the time and Romanov has now revealed that the former Scotland gaffer fancied a move to Celtic while still in Gorgie.

Celts were managed by Gordon Strachan at the time which perhaps makes the story – told on BBC’s Czar of Hearts documentary – hard to believe.

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Rudi Skacel and Roman Bednar wanted Celtic moves

But the madcap Russian-Lithuanian businessman also explained how two players also wanted to follow Steven Pressley and Paul Hartley to Celtic Park in the shape of Rudi Skacel and Roman Bednar.

“Celtic as you might know made offers to our players, (Craig) Gordon, (Paul) Hartley and (Steven) Pressley. Celtic made their moves and I had to act fast.

“George Burley also wanted to go to Celtic and so did two Czech players. Skacel and Bednar. Suddenly I was dealing with a revolution right under my nose. The club was almost left without all these key players.

“By the end of the season they all wanted to go to Celtic.”

Only Pressley and Hartley would be allowed to leave Hearts that window while Craig Gordon was convinced to stick around at Tynecastle.

How Romanov stopped Craig Gordon from joining Celtic

But even the conversation to keep the goalkeeper – years before he would eventually finally find himself at Parkhead – was a weird one.

Romanov claims he promised the stopper a blank cheque to ensure he stuck around and he also vowed to sell him down the line to the Premier League which ultimately did happen at Sunderland for £9million.

Romanov said: “I told him, ‘Your contract is running out and I know Celtic has made you an offer, but you’ll end up being their second-choice goalkeeper, not the first.’

“‘If you stay and sign with us, I promise you’ll play in the English league.’ He laughed, not taking me seriously. So, I said, ‘If you don’t believe me, here’s a blank contract. Write down the amount you want.’

“Gordon wrote down a very large sum – something unheard of at Hearts and all of Scottish football. I looked at it, signed it, and handed it back. That’s how we managed to keep him.”