For the first time since Vladimir Romanov's tenure started, Heart of Midlothian appear to have a manager willing to embrace the methods and demands of the majority shareholder. How Csaba Laszlo plays his paymaster will be a major factor in the club's prowess this season.

So far, the Romanian-Hungarian has displayed a knack for integrating and pulling together a fragmented club. Romanov's passion for football decrees that he must be kept abreast with developments at all times, whether they occur on a Riccarton training pitch or around a boardroom table in the bowels of Tynecastle.

Laszlo, unlike some predecessors, is clearly content with such an arrangement and seems determined to embrace it rather than retreat into a shell. Squad reorganising will be conducted largely by committee, with Romanov and Hearts' sport director, Anatoli Korobochka, heavily involved, and understanding this issue appears central to the whole process at Hearts.

Whereas George Burley, Graham Rix and even, to an extent, Valdas Ivanauskas became frustrated when Romanov issued orders, Laszlo's ability to combine western and eastern European cultures places him in an advantageous position. As a workmanlike midfield player he played in Germany with clubs such as Bayer Uerdingen and considers himself stereotypically German while also possessing an insight into varied footballing mentalities as a Romanian-born Hungarian who arrived in Edinburgh from Uganda.

Now there are TWO ways to feed your fantasy

We have built on last year's success of PlayTheGame by offering fantasy football managers double the fun this coming season

Multimedia

• Chelsea: On-the-job training

• Man United: You've been merked, Capello

• Reading: Is Lita's yesterday's man?

Related Links

• Reid keeps faith with the youngsters

• Rangers target SPL to lift the gloom

If he can listen to Romanov while also putting his own ideas across, a cohesive arrangement could yet ensue. The early signs are promising, as Romanov confirmed when speaking about his most recent appointment. “Csaba Laszlo has plenty of experience working in the football world that allows him to work with me and convince me with a lot of positions where the manager wants to do it his way. He can convince me of that and I can take that on board,” Romanov said.

“So far, it has been smooth sailing. There has been no problem whatsoever. Working with Csaba Laszlo is good. You need contact. You need to be in touch and to talk. You must not be afraid of speaking openly and clearly with one another.

“My target [for season 2008-09] is to get involved in the business of the team less and less often. I don't want to get into that. I believe that with Csaba Laszlo in charge this dream of not having to do things with the team can come true.”

“Working” the unpredictable Romanov will always remain an impossibility, but Laszlo has offered evidence that working him to your advantage can be done. Hearts' two new faces ahead of the kick-off against Motherwell, David Obua, the Uganda midfield player, and Werner Burger, the assistant coach, are indisputably the manager's choices. “We work together on new players, on the technical team, on all matters. This is the most important thing at a football club,” Laszlo said. “I speak with Mr Romanov, I speak with Anatoli and we reach a decision that is right for Hearts.

“We can take players for money but you must be careful how you spend money in football. This club has spent money in the past but now we have our youth academy players that we want to use. We can also take players from areas like Kaunas but a player who comes to Hearts must have the right attitude and mentality.”

Laszlo would like a new striker to aid his attempts to guide Hearts back into Europe - “the Uefa Cup must be our target” - but he displays an aptitude for tracksuit-style coaching as well as collar-and-tie management. “We have Jamie Mole, Gary Glen, Christian Nade and Juho Makela as our strikers,” he said. “I will work with these players and if they show the ambition to become better then they can achieve things with this club.”

Working with those around him and sticking to the stipulated parameters, Hearts' new manager has learnt the ropes quickly.

Heart of Midlothian

Manager: Csaba Laszlo

Last season: 8th

Players in: David Obua (Kaizer Chiefs)

Players out: Ibrahim Tall (Nantes), Jose Goncalves (loan, Nuremberg), Neil McCann (Falkirk), Roman Bednar (West Brom), Mauricio Pinilla (released)

Graham Spiers' tip: This Laszlo character fills me with minor hope for Hearts, though he still needs at least three new players, including a striker, and possibly a goalie, too. Laszlo appears strong-minded and brings fresh ideas to the SPL - cue a minor Gorgie revival.

Prediction: 6th

Classic Times Fantasy Football is back. Sign up for £3 a team or 3 for £6