Vladimir Romanov's public relations adviser stood down from his role as a sports reporter with BBC Scotland yesterday in protest over its handling of a documentary about the Hearts owner. Charlie Mann, who acts for the Lithuanian multi-millionaire and has been a radio reporter on BBC Scotland's flagship Sportsound show for 12 years, is understood to have decided his position at the corporation had become untenable because of the way that they handled the broadcasting of Frontline Scotland: The Romanov Revolution, which was aired last night.

The programme made a series of allegations against Romanov who had agreed to take part in it, after consultation with Mann, on the understanding that they would see the programme and be allowed to answer the claims made before it was broadcast.

However, journalists were invited to the headquarters of BBC Scotland's in Glasgow on Tuesday morning to view the programme before Mann or any of Romanov's aides had seen it. After hearing about the screening, Mann contacted the corporation and asked if he could see it on behalf of the Hearts' majority shareholder.

Mann, who works for public relations company Weber Shandwick, was unavailable for comment last night but The Herald understands he was angered when that request was rejected by BBC Scotland and felt the programme makers had gone back on their promise.

It is also believed that the fact Mann had arranged for Romanov to fly to Scotland last Sunday to present the Player of the Year trophy at the Off The Ball radio awards, at the request of BBC Scotland, had compounded his anger about their behaviour.

Romanov was also unavailable for comment last night but sources close to the Lithuanian said that he was furious at not being allowed to view the documentary before it was broadcast.

One source claimed that BBC Scotland had turned down at least two requests to show Romanov the programme before it went out.

"The BBC had been granted unprecedented access to Tynecastle and to Vladimir both in Scotland and Lithuania," said the source. "He is annoyed because he thinks that, in the interests of fair play, he should have been given the same access to the programme enjoyed by the Scottish media.

"He was also angry that the BBC refused to stop the interview with him which eventually went out on air after it overran, despite the fact he wanted it to end so he could attend The Herald Diageo Scottish Politician of the Year awards, which he ended up arriving late at."

A BBC spokesman denied last night that they had ever given assurances to Romanov's camp that they could see the programme before it was broadcast, adding: "Mr Romanov was given the opportunity to answer the criticisms made about his business activities in the interview, which was halted by Mr Romanov's team, despite the fact he had not fully answered the questions put to him." Meanwhile, a club spokesman yesterday confirmed that Chris Robinson, the former chief executive, is still involved in helping the club on planning matters regarding the future of Tynecastle stadium.

Robinson resigned as a director after Romanov took control of the Edinburgh club but the Lithuanian decided to retain the former chief executive in a consultancy role and pay him out of his own pocket for his services.