Yet against a backdrop of 13 dropped points in the Scottish Premier League already, it seems to have nudged McLeish to the edge of the precipice. Without a string of wins, he could be a goner.Today's match, which completes the first set of fixtures of the season, will be McLeish's 200th in charge at Ibrox."There is no reason why we can't have as good a second quarter [of the season] as Hearts have had in the first to make a fresh assault on the championship," he said. McLeish's opposite number today is Terry Butcher, a former Ibrox hero. Hearts' capital rivals, Hibernian, are third, seven off the pace, and travel to Aberdeen this afternoon.Last season's champions, Rangers, are trailing in fourth, nine points behind Hearts.
Anything less than a win at home to Motherwell today will lead to a further shortening of the odds on their manager, Alex McLeish, being sacked.It was McLeish's misfortune that Rangers could not convert one of their season's most dominant displays - against Artmedia Bratislava in the Champions' league in midweek - into a win.In most other seasons, that 0-0 draw, in isolation, would have been accepted as an unlucky result. "We can build the business, both on and off the field."Romanov assumed £19m of debt when he bought a controlling interest in Hearts this year. He has also bankrolled an improved wage structure to attract players, with nine arrivals over the summer.Hearts have begun the season with an unbeaten run of 10 games, including eight wins to start, to lead the table by three points from Celtic, who travel to Kilmarnock tomorrow. The Lithuanian multimillionaire yesterday agreed a deal to raise his 29.9 per cent stake to 55.5 per cent by buying the 26.6 per cent of shares owned by SMG media company, Bank of Scotland and individuals including the Hearts director George Foulkes. That agreement means Romanov is obliged to make an offer for the remainder of Hearts' shares, and he has tabled a bid of 35p a share. As Hearts seek to maintain control of the title race today, looking for a fifth home win from five games when Dunfermline visit Tynecastle, their owner, Vladimir Romanov, has moved a significant step closer to total control of the club.
The offer values the club at £4.42m, which may yet prove a steal if Hearts go on to win their first title since 1960 and claim access to the Champions' League."Hearts has the potential to develop into a major player within European football," Romanov, 58, said. Valencia have lost once in seven league starts and are fifth in the table, three points behind Real. While Valencia have David Villa returning from suspension, and Pablo Aimar back from gastroenteritis, Real will be without Ronaldo, Julio Baptista and Michel Salgado.Osasuna, a surprise second-place, host Barcelona who are struggling in sixth. Bar?have doubts over Rafael Marquez, Ludovic Giuly, Gabri and Deco.New Bundesliga leaders Werder Bremen visit Hanover 96 without Johan Micoud but Miroslav Klose and Ivan Klasnic should both be fit to continue a partnership that has already brought 18 league goals this season Bayern Munich host MSV Duisburg tomorrow.. More pertinently, Juve will be without the injured Lilian Thuram and Patrick Vieira.Milan, in second, must do without Andrei Shevchenko for the visit of Palermo but can still partner Alberto Gilardino with Christian Vieri.Real Madrid's ability to stay at the top of the Spanish league will be examined tomorrow when Valencia visit the Bernabeu.
