Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov has fallen out with the president of the Lithuanian Football Federation, Liutauras Varanavicius. Varanavicius is a former Hearts director and claims he has resigned from his post as the chairman of the Ukio Bankas advisory board following a public row with Romanov, who controls the bank.

"There have been chronic problems and my resignation is just a consequence," Varanavicius told the Lithuanian newspaper Lietuvos Rytas. "Mr Romanov constantly criticises me on football matters. If someone does not trust me, I cannot work with him. I had to make a choice between the bank and football and I chose football."

Romanov, however, disputes that explanation of events.

"He said it was resignation?" asked the tycoon. "You believe him? Well, you would need to ask the bank staff if he left voluntarily.

"I never criticised him on football matters. I just told him there should be no dirty things in Lithuanian football."