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Vladimiras Romanovas admitted that he lost interest in football, therefore he is looking for potential buyers for the Edinburgh club.
The Lithuanian businessman has repeatedly criticized the Scottish football system, federation leaders, the country's media, and clubs for corruption. He promised to continue to meet financial obligations, but expenses will be cut.
Romanovas invested in "Hearts" in 2004, saving the team from bankruptcy and helping them win long-awaited victories: the Scottish Cup and third place in the country's championship. Because of this, fans have declared their support for the businessman more than once.
"I have to consider the possibility of looking for partners or selling the club," Romanovas is quoted in a public statement. "For seven years I hoped that football would finally start to be respected where it appeared. However, it's the same as asking the mafia to feel sorry for their deeds. There is only one way out - focus on the youth academy and hope that the situation will improve on its own. Football faces Shakespeare's question: "To be or not to be". Either change, or continue to live under the control of the media until ultimately Lithuania and Gabon surpass Scotland."
He continued: "I show no less attention to the club, but my interest in football disappeared. In the "free world" good deeds are not enough - you have to pay to promote them in the media, and when you do that, it becomes possible to hide crimes and avoid responsibility. The problem is that I refuse to pay monkeys for advertising, because someone has to answer for their dominance in sports and culture, economy and history. Therefore, we need to look for a partner or sell the club."
Lately, "Hearts" footballers have been delayed in receiving wages for almost three weeks. In addition, the club is burdened with a debt of 30 million pounds sterling.
The text appearing on the team's website also adds: "Over the six years, Romanovas invested more than anyone else, but the owner's situation in Scottish football is unsatisfactory. Therefore, we must prepare for the main team to have lower expenses, with more emphasis placed on the development of young talents. We will also look for new sources of income and strive to move to a new stadium. It is important to note that currently, financing is on the owner's shoulders, but the harmful influence of the media threatens the club's future."
Lately, Romanovas has been spending much more time in Lithuania, where he has been dealing with matters related to the basketball team Kaunas "Žalgiris."
