SHUT UP OR PUT UP

Feb 11 2005

Jefferies: Robbo must keep quiet or it will end up costing him dear

By Anthony Haggerty

KILMARNOCK boss Jim Jefferies insists his former Tynecastle pupil John Robertson must learn to button it or risk forking out fortunes in SFA fines.

Scottish football chiefs have asked Hearts head coach Robertson to explain his comments about the match officials after his side's 2-2 Scottish Cup draw with Kilmarnock last Saturday.

The Tynecastle boss was furious at referee John Rowbotham and assistant Ricky Mooney after the game, believing they were at fault in both Killie goals.

Earlier this week Robbo claimed the SFA had a witch-hunt against the Edinburgh club after former boss Craig Levein refused to pay a fine in 2003.

However, Jefferies believes Robbo will have to mellow if he wants to avoid making regular trips to the disciplinary beaks at Hampden.

He said: 'It'll cost Robbo a few bob. It cost me a few quid in fines over the years when I was manager at Hearts and he'll soon learn to keep quiet once the fines come through thick and fast.

'Robbo was single-minded and deeply passionate as a player and when things go against him he will get frustrated and say things. We have all done it.

'I got into a lot of trouble for things I said as Hearts manager.

Maybe Robbo learned that off me, I don't know, but he might have learned the wrong things.

'John is a young manager and he will learn as he gets older that you have to be a wee bit more mellow.'

Jefferies, who guided the Edinburgh side to Scottish Cup glory in 1998, revealed he has every sympathy for Robbo.

The Killie boss said: 'The fact Hibs are going well in the league and the takeover events off the field have not helped his cause.

'Uncertainty at the club has added to the fact it has been a tough time to be the manager of Hearts recently.

'Nobody knows what the future holds but they are gradually addressing the problems.'

Meanwhile, Jefferies insisted something has to be done about league reconstruction as Killie prepare to face Hearts for the sixth time this season.

They meet at Tynecastle tomorrow and assuming both sides qualify for the top six, they will square up for the seventh time after the split.

Jefferies believes that is a massive turn-off for fans.

He said: 'It is not healthy for the Scottish game. Playing a team four times a season is bad enough and fans get fed up but seven times is just incredible.

'Ideally we'd like to play each other twice. I'm in favour of league reconstruction by way of freshening things up and improving the current league set-up.'

Taken from the Daily Record