Vladimir insists the funds are there if Laszlo can suggest suitable strikers

Hearts' majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov claims Csaba Laszlo is to blame for Hearts' failure to sign more than one striker for the new season.

His comments follow the Jambos' Europa League exit at the hands of Dinamo Zagreb and Laszlo voicing his concerns at the lack of cash for transfers.

"It's not the funds which are the problem," said Romanov.

"If the Hearts management suggested not one but two really good forwards, I would buy both immediately."

And the Lithuanian iterated that he rejected the chance to pursue several signing targets.

"None of about 10 candidates we considered was suitable for Hearts," added Romanov.

Hearts regained some pride with a 2-0 victory over the Croatians at Tynecastle on Thursday night but were unable to overturn the four-goal deficit from the first leg in Zagreb.

And after the match Laszlo expressed his frustrations about his lack of striking options, with Christian Nade again failing to pose a goalscoring threat for the team.

"If I had one or two other players - a striker - we could score goals but at the moment I am forced to play with what I have," said the 45-year-old.

The Romania-born coach joined Hearts last summer and in his first season picked up the manager of the year award.

It appeared that Romanov had decided to operate a more hands-off approach, having had a turbulent relationship with former managers, such as George Burley and Stevie Frail.

But these latest comments suggest that Romanov's and Laszlo's visions of how success can be achieved for the Edinburgh club are at odds.

The majority shareholder said: "I say to Laszlo that the chase for immediate results with the emphasis on experienced footballers is no good.

"We should introduce the youths into the main team on a permanent basis. If we don't do that, the club's prospects in the table will not be so bright."

But Laszlo, in a barbed comment about the support on offer from Romanov, dropped a hint that his future may lie elsewhere.

He said: "Hearts is a big club. I have a two-year contract. I am proud to work for this club, but you don't know what happens tomorrow.

"I like to work for this team but I would like to have the protection from behind."

Former Hearts director of football Jim Duffy worked briefly with Romanov during season 2005/06 and would not be surprised if the current impasse over signings led to Laszlo leaving Tynecastle.

"As soon as there's conflict there, it'll come to a head eventually and if it comes to a head then it'll be the manager's head that'll be on the chopping block," Duffy told BBC Scotland.

"Managers that have been successful there have eventually had to leave and, if they're struggling this year, I think Csaba's time will eventually come up.

"But the Hearts fans like him, he's got a good personality; he's been welcomed into Scotland, he really enjoys it, the media like him and it'll be a brave decision by Vladimir Romanov but it's one I don't think he'll worry too much about.

"In some clubs, all of the major decisions about signing players or players coming and going are down to the manager.

"But everyone knows that's not the case at Hearts. I think Vladimir Romanov's made that perfectly clear himself. He said he has an influence in the team selection and player recruitment."

Duffy also believes the struggle to replace influential players has been the main factor in Hearts' struggles so far this season.

He added: "He's lost Robbie Neilson, Christophe Berra, Bruno Aguiar and an experienced goalkeeper in Steve Banks.

"He hasn't replaced these players with anywhere near the same quality and if that happens and you get one or two injuries then you know you can only go backwards."

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