Hearts hope to be quickly on mend

James Traynor

5 May 1993

SO much has happened to Hearts over the past five days that the last thing the players might want to do is pull on their jerseys and tackle Aberdeen, writes James Traynor.

But life must go on and the caretaker manager, Sandy Clark, has spent the time since Joe Jordan's dismissal trying to instil a greater self-belief among his squad.

A place in next season's UEFA Cup, he claims, is not yet beyond them.

However, should the players fail to respond positively enough to beat Aberdeen then the European door will close and with it a possible source of revenue which the Tynecastle club badly needs.

Clark, who hopes to be given the job on a permanent basis, is under no illusions about the enormity of the task, but he has faith in the players, even though they were left in a state of shock after having lost 6-0 to Falkirk last Saturday.

"If we are allowed one or two breaks I think there are players here capable of picking themselves up and beating Aberdeen," he said.

"At the very least, we should be able to give them a hell of a game."

The former Airdrie, West Ham, and Rangers striker, who had an unhappy spell as manager of Partick Thistle, has been striving to restore some sense of normality within the dressing room since Monday, when Jordan was told he would no longer be required, and he has felt the mood of the players changing for the better.

"However, while the mood might seem as though it has improved I won't know until the game starts.

That will be the real test," he said.

Two of Clark's players had to be sent home yesterday because they were suffering from flu and he will have a check on them this morning before finalising his selection, but there could be roles at some stage during the match for a couple of youngsters.

John Sharples, Alan Johnston, Kevin Thomas, and Tommy Harrison have been told they will be in the squad, and Clark said one or two of them could be involved in the game.

The new manager is aware of his team's deficiencies and he knows they are short of at least a couple of players if they are to challenge Rangers on the domestic front.

His problem will be a lack of finance to bring in the players required and he can only hope the younger players will emerge quickly.

Aberdeen will not be able to use Theo Snelders, Jim Bett, or Andy Roddie, who are injured and join long-term casualties Brian Grant, Lee Richardson, Eoin Jess, and Stephen Wright on the sidelines.

Gary Smith is suspended and the manager, Willie Miller, admits it will be difficult to cope.

"My options are severely restricted," he said.

Miller has added Graham and Gregg Watson, Andy Gibson, and Colin MacRonald to his travelling group and has warned the players not to underestimate Hearts because of their difficulties.

"Every time a manager leaves a club there is a reaction and the players will try to impress the new man," he said.

Taken from the Herald