Locke out to secure medals

IAN PAUL

4 Apr 1996

SILENCE may be golden, but it does not do a great deal for the interviewer with pen or mike poised for action.

Yet in the case of a couple of Hearts players, it might well have been more significant than anything they may have said.

Not that Gary Mackay and John Robertson, two stalwarts of the media interviews in the past, would have been uninteresting interviewees had they consented to speak to the press gang yesterday.

It is just that the fact they wanted to keep their peace as the Scottish Cup semi-final against Aberdeen looms may indicate a real and understandable sense of tension in long-time Tynecastle men.

Both players have been part of the major list of disappointments which has done so much to hinder the progress of the club in the last decade or so and, as both enter what their manager calls the "twilight of their careers," the incongruous combination of fear of another let-down and anticipation of a great finale must be coursing through their daily thoughts.

Said Jim Jefferies: "They may feel that time is running out for them.

They see new players coming here and maybe better times in the future, and they want to be part of it." Both Mackay and Robertson, as well as John Colquhoun, have had the brunt of the answering to do over the years as the club lost out in the league and cup in one fatal week 10 years ago, and as the defeats in cup semi-finals by Airdrie (twice) and St Mirren have left supporters devastated.

It would be perfectly understandable if they believe they have done their talking and now want to wipe out the memories in the best way possible.

"They have had a lot of publicity over the years and maybe they feel it is someone else's turn.

Certainly, Mackay has been like a man possessed in training this week, but whether that is because of the signing of Colin Cameron or trying to make sure of his semi-final place we don't know," said Jefferies with a wry smile.

"The players know they are going into this game in fourth place in the league after being at the bottom a few months ago.

The progress has been great this season and we are not about to start looking back.

" He does confess that winning a trophy this season would be the biggest day of his life.

"As a Hearts supporter as a boy, a player for them and now a manager, it would be marvellous to give the fans a cup to celebrate.

I would love to watch a kid like Gary Locke, who has also been a fan since he was boy, go up to lift the cup.

But there is a long way to go before that can be considered.

"However, I believe that if we play as well as we can we are capable of going through to the final.

If we can do that, again I believe we can beat either Rangers or Celtic." Jefferies is confident that he has the balance in the team right between experienced players and ambitious young players.

Foreigners like keeper Gilles Rousset and Pasquale Bruno provide immense experience at a high level and such as Locke, Paul Ritchie, Alan McManus, Alan Johnston and Kevin Thomas add the fearlessness of youth.

It is that very fearlessness which is illustrated by Locke, team captain at 20 and a true Jambo.

"I am looking forward to leading out the team at Hampden before a huge crowd of our fans," he said.

"Hopefully, we can give them something to celebrate this year." Locke has been revelling in the atmosphere around Tynecastle this week.

"The difference from last season is all down to the management.

The fact we have signed Colin Cameron, a player I have always admired, shows that the club is going places.

"Most of all, though, I would love to win the cup this year to give people like Gary Mackay and John Robertson medals they are long overdue." Perhaps the sound of silence from that area is the most significant clue to the desire among those old-timers.

Will it be their turn after all the heartache (and the pun is valid)? The chances of that coming about may be more down to the cocky young members of the new brigade than those who have been around during the suffering years.

If the great day should dawn next month when the Edinburgh side win the cup, their captain and superfan, Locke, may be shedding tears of a different sort from the ones he and so many others in the Dens Park terracing could not stem 10 years ago when the league title slipped from the team's grasp.

Taken from the Herald