Hearts supremo Roman Romanov was criticised by the club's shareholders association after claiming the SPL is "fixed" in favour of the Old Firm.Romanov made his controversial point at Friday's Hearts annual general meeting where he faced questions from shareholders concerned by debt levels, the absence of a permanent manager and the process of renovating Tynecastle.

Romanov was speaking in the absence of his father Vladimir, the club's majority shareholder, who did not attend the meeting.

Hearts have failed to finish in the top six of the SPL and face post-split matches against the league's lesser sides, starting with Saturday's home match against St Mirren.

Romanov said: "For a very long time in this country it is a fixed league where Rangers and Celtic win by 30 points.

"Ask yourself how many games this year have been screwed by referees, five games is 15 points."

Alex Gowans, the chairman of the Heart of Midlothian Shareholders' Association, was dismayed to hear Romanov make the claim.

"He was very vague when answering questions and then went back to the old hobby-horse of referees and the Old Firm," said Gowans.

"Nobody believes that. I don't know why he's coming out with things like that.

"The reason Rangers and Celtic are at the top of the league is because they are the strongest teams."

Shareholders present at the meeting were frustrated by an approach to questioning which Gowans described as "confrontational".

Romanov urged fans to get behind caretaker manager Stephen Frail.

Although some Hearts supporters have confidence in Frail, others had their hopes raised when the club announced in January their intention to bring in an experienced, preferably British, manager.

"It was a fairly shambolic affair," said Gowans.

"He [Roman Romanov] started out and seemed to be confrontational. That continued and set the tone for the occasion.

"One or two people were maybe out to make a point but most wanted their questions answered in a proper fashion.

"He appeared to take offence at many of them, and he didn't seem to be well prepared. In many ways it was a waste of time."

Gowans was thankful for the Romanovs taking charge at a time of crisis for Hearts in October 2005.

However the relationship between the board and supporters has become strained, and the shareholders' association are keen to see a positive change.

With Hearts experiencing a miserable season on the pitch, and with their most recent financial results showing debt has soared above £30million, supporters and shareholders are keen to see a turnaround in the club's playing and fiscal fortunes.

"In any sort of company like this it's a partnership which you need," Gowans said.

"If he [Roman Romanov] had just put his hand up and said, 'Yes, we're responsible for some of this', the fans would accept that.

"He's putting barriers up and he's got his head in the sand probably."

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