Majority shareholder Romanov was reported to be making moves to bring in players as his lengthy search for a new boss continues.

Romanov, who also has interests in Lithuanian club FBK Kaunas and MTZ-Ripo of Belarus, is meeting Portuguese agent Paulo Barbosa this week.

However, Tynecastle sporting director Anatoly Korobochka insists no decisions will be taken on new players before a new manager is in place.

The club claimed on Monday that an appointment would be made "shortly" but their search is now into its seventh month, and has been made more urgent by the decision to place caretaker boss Stephen Frail on gardening leave.

Korobochka told the club's website: "We are organising possible options for the new manager, however no decisions on any transfers will be taken until his appointment.

"The club continues to work diligently towards the appointment of a new manager, who will be responsible for managing all first-team matters."

A further statement on the club's official website declared that Romanov's meeting with Barbosa "has nothing to do with Hearts".

Meanwhile, Romanov has confirmed that the club's new manager will not come from Scotland.

When Hearts first began their recruitment process, they stated the manager "will preferably have experience of management in British football".

Motherwell boss Mark McGhee headed their list but he was followed by Artmedia Bratislava boss Vladimir Weiss and former Hertha Berlin manager Jurgen Rober in rejecting the Tynecastle club.

The latest name in the frame is Uganda coach Laszlo Csaba, after the Hungarian claimed Hearts have approached him.

Romanov told BBC Scotland through an interpreter: "We have spoken to a few candidates.

"Scottish people, as we have discussed previously, are part of the local structure and local footballing mafia, and it is very difficult for them to rise above that level."