Robertson will work with Romanov and Anatoly Byshovets

Prospective owner Vladimir Romanov is poised to invest in the club and Foulkes said: "John Robertson is committed to taking Hearts to the top.

"Things have already been built up by Jim Jefferies and Craig Levein.

"And I am sure that, with the all the changes to come, it will prove to be the dawn of a new era for Hearts."

Hearts had immediately targeted Robertson after Levein left to join Leicester City on Friday.

"The Hearts fans would not have been happy if we had not worked as quickly and enthusiastically as we did to get John Robertson," said Foulkes.

Robbo will know the size of the task in front of him Gary Mackay

"He is a Hearts legend as a player, but we wanted him not because he is a legend but because he had sound managerial experience, first at Livingston and then at Inverness Caledonian Thistle, where he led them to promotion and two cup semi-finals last season."

Foulkes insisted that Romanov had been consulted about the appointment but that the board had also been unanimous in its choice.

Romanov wants to challenge the dominance of Celtic and Rangers, but Foulkes insisted that Robertson was not daunted by such heady ambitions.

He also predicted that the return of Robertson to the club he graced as a player would provide "a huge psychological lift" ahead of Thursday's Uefa Cup visit by Schalke 04.

Former Hearts midfielder Gary Mackay has backed Robertson to continue the success enjoyed by Levein.

"John will be able to unite everybody to focus in taking the club forwards, first of all," said Mackay.

Mackay has been a harsh critic of chief executive Chris Robinson and proposals to sell Tynecastle Stadium.

But the former Scotland midfielder believes that Robertson will work well with Romanov and proposed director of football Anatoly Byshovets, the former CIS coach.

"Mr Romanov looks to be coming in around 8 December and I think he has been asked for his thoughts on the appointment of John Robertson," he said.

"Hopefully, when everything is clear from top to bottom, the club will be on a better footing to allow Robbo to improve it and take it forward.

"There are probably even people in Scotland who don't realise how big a club Hearts are.

"The only other clubs who are bigger than Hearts are Celtic and Rangers, so Robbo will know the size of the task in front of him.

"He has to try to maintain the club's third position in the league but also improve in cup competition.

"That was the one down in Craig Levein's time. I think he only got to one semi-final in four years."