Romanov says Craig Brown is not the man for Hearts

And a club spokesman confirmed that it would not be former Scotland and Preston North End manager Craig Brown.

Head coach Graham Rix insists that he does not know who the new man will be.

But Hearts chairman Roman Romanov had this week told a fans group that a well-known figure was already "working incognito" for the club.

Brown, who presently has a scouting role with Fulham, had this week refused to comment after being linked with the Hearts job, despite Rix saying that he would welcome the appointment of the former national boss.

But Rix said: "I swear to God I have no idea who it is. That is not really my department anyway."

It was never his intention to own 70% or more Hearts chairman Roman Romanov

Rix, who drew his first game in charge at Pittodrie on Sunday, added: "It's been great building up a relationship with the players, but I would have done that anyway whether there was anyone here or not."

He told BBC Sport that it is important the new man is in position before the January transfer window so they can improve the sqaud.

Hearts are seeking a "technical director" to oversee transfer dealings and other, off-field football duties to allow new head coach Rix to concentrate on training the players.

Romanov was asked at a meeting with the Hearts Shareholders Association whether Brown was in the running.

"First of all, it is not true," he was reported as saying by The Scotsman before revealing that the post had already been filled.

Meanwhile, Romanov explained that his father had increased his stake in the club because he had found his plans opposed at times by now deposed chief executive Phil Anderton and chairman George Foulkes.

"Vladimir owned 30% of the club," he said, citing frustration at the lack of progress on stadium improvements. "It was never his intention to own 70% or more.

"But it got to the situation where the owner made a decision but was told he couldn't do that because he only owned 30%.

"That was the root of the problem. We let them run the club for nine months, but there were no results with the city council, for example.

"So we decided to buy more shares and get new management in."

Romanov said he had met City of Edinburgh Council on Thursday and hoped to proceed with plans to knock down the main stand in May, with work on building a new one taking a year.