Stand off over Hearts stadium plans

But the new city council leadership are determined to resist any attempt to demolish Tynecastle High School.

Being forced to work around the grade two listed Victorian building would severely limit what Hearts can do with the site.

The club is thought to have been reassured demolition plans would be looked upon "sympathetically" when they bought the land from the council earlier this year.

But the attitude has changed since the Liberal Democrat/SNP coalition took charge in May.

The commercial development is seen as key to helping give the club the financial muscle to compete with the Old Firm.

But council leader Jenny Dawe and Jim Lowrie, the head of the city's planning committee, will spell out their concerns to Mr Romanov and his advisers at a meeting next week.

Cllr Dawe said the school did not stand in the way of the club's need to expand the stadium.

"From what I understand, the club's main priority is connected to the expansion of the main stand. But they will have to recognise the importance of the school building's listed status," she said.

"I've been concerned that Mr Romanov is trying to replicate the stadium he built in Vilnius. I've no doubt the club harbours ambitious plans, but it still has to work within existing legislation and the fact the school is B-listed.

"I can't see any way that they would get permission to knock it down. It's important for the city that we don't have a repeat of the 1960s when a lot of fine buildings were knocked down and replaced by horrible multi-storey blocks."

The club are already aware of the opposition through informal talks with council officials.

They are now looking to submit a planning application in the coming weeks for a 12,000-capacity main stand, including extensive corporate hospitality facilities.

The rest of the redevelopment would be approached in phases.

Earlier this year, the previous Labour-led council administration agreed to sell off the high school site to the club, along with the site of a nursery, for a combined total of 6 million.

Cllr Lowrie said: "There is nothing to stop the club from pursuing the scheme, but I'd certainly advise them against it. It would be a waste of time for something which is going to be refused."

One source close to Hearts said the club still had plenty of time to draw up plans as they don't take ownership of the site until 2010.

"Things are a long way off because the new school will not be ready for another three years, but there is no doubt this is holding up the club's plans," the insider said.

A Hearts spokesman said: "We will not be saying anything publicly about the stadium redevelopment until we are ready to submit a planning application and speak to the local community."

The council is planning a new home for the high school on the other side of McLeod Street.