Neil Warnock: I was nearly Hearts manager in Romanov days

Cardiff City boss Neil Warnock has revealed he almost became manager of Hearts.

Neil Warnock, pictured, says he 'couldn't make head nor tail' of former Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov

The Englishman, who yesterday swooped to sign Tynecastle star Callum Paterson on a three-year deal, was interviewed for the manager’s job during Vladimir Romanov’s tenure in Gorgie but, unsurprisingly, could not relate to the Russian in charge or any of his associates.

“I nearly went up there to Hearts when the eastern European guy was in charge,” admitted Warnock. “I couldn’t make head nor tail of him, though. I thought I had a chance of the job and I fancied it because we have a place in Dunoon.

“I spoke to him and his associates but things were changing from one day to the next. I thought, after all my experiences and problems with so many different chairman, I didn’t feel it was the time in my life to take on another one like that. It was 2011 or 2012 if I remember right.

“They’re a good club, though, and the owner, Ann [Budge], has done a decent job there.”