\n<\/p>\n
Ask any Hearts fan when the wheels started to truly fall off the Vladimir Romanov wagon, and they’d most likely point to a cold October morning in 2006.<\/b><\/p>\n
This was nothing to do with the revolving door of managers, a door which kept turning despite league positions.<\/p>\n
This was a dressing room revolution, exposed and laid bare by the most powerful among the squad, against the man at the top.<\/p>\n
“Chaps, just to make you aware that I’m going to make a statement and we’ll answer no questions,” captain Steven Pressley told the assembled journalists as he walked in beside midfielder Paul Hartley and goalkeeper Craig Gordon.<\/p>\n
As they took their seats behind a little table, busy with microphones and cables, and cameras flashing just inches from their noses, the Riccarton Three had their moment.<\/p>\n
This was not going to be your run of the mill news conference. It took almost all gathered there, including those working for the club, by complete surprise.<\/p>\n
Well, everyone except BBC Scotland’s Brian McLauchlin…<\/p>\n
“That morning, I received a text from a player asking me if I was attending the media conference,” McLauchlin remembers. “I said ‘yes’. He said ‘get there early, get a front seat, this’ll be fun.’ <\/p>\n
“It was dynamite.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n