Hearts and Paul Hartley, hope and despair

The run-up to the match against Aberdeen was, as usual, painful to witness.

Last week’s Tynecastle tribulation surrounded member two of the Riccarton Three - Paul Hartley - for his part in the episode which was ultimately the beginning of the end for Steven Pressley's time as Hearts captain, talisman and all-round superhero.

I refer to that hijacked press conference when Hartley sat alongside and in support of Elvis as he delivered his verdict on the mess inside Heart of Midlothian FC. For his part, then, he was to turn up at a disciplinary hearing last Thursday with the infamous Pedro Lopez - now considered the 'spear with which Vlad does his impaling'.

Information is as yet, and typically, unclear at the moment. It is also unclear as to when information will ever be clear again on this or any other matter inside Tynecastle. Regardless of anything Vladimir Romanov has done or not done, caused or otherwise, one thing is for sure. He has done a very good job of keeping people quiet after they leave the club.