HEARTS TAKE A FINAL LOOK

Aug 23 2005

Stark reality of Hampden tie Queen's Park v Hearts

By Hugh Keevins And Gary Ralston

QUEEN'S boss Billy Stark reckons Hearts fans will be desperate to see tonight's tie at Hampden so they can pick out their seats for the CIS Cup Final.

Stark has had epic battles over the years with the Tynecastle side and was part of the Aberdeen team that beat the Jambos in the 1986 Scottish Cup Final.

But now his amateur men, who are sixth in the Third Division with only one win so far this season, are taking on the Romanov revolutionaries who've taken the SPL by storm and have the only flawless record in the major league after four matches.

Stark said: "Daunting is a word I've never had to use to describe any game against Hearts I've been involved in over the years as a player and manager. But this time it's the only word I can use.

"I still think it's debatable whether Hearts can split the Old Firm in the SPL this season but what's not in doubt is they have players of a high calibre.

"George Burley is having to keep a lid on some of the more excitable talk about his team. But this is probably the highest point in their league existence since they went to Dens Park needing a draw to win the title from Celtic in 1986.

"But Dundee beat them with two late goals and by the time they came to play Aberdeen in the Cup Final the following week they were hollow inside through disappointment.

"Now the Hearts fans are planning a trip to Hampden for the game against Queen's so they can pick out a good seat for the CIS Cup Final next March."

Stark has told his players he doesn't want them just to enjoy the occasion tonight. He said: "I want the club to entice lots of Hearts fans to Hampden and take a nice share of the gate money.

"But I also want my team to stay as competitively involved in the match as we can for as long as possible.

"If I'm being honest the Hearts fans are going to the National Stadium expecting to see Queen's Park turned into lambs to the slaughter.

"All I can ask is that we emerge with our pride intact after the final whistle has blown."

Meanwhile, Burley has denied he is ready to walk out on Hearts.The manager has dismissed reports he is ready to quit after less than two months because he is fed up with Romanov interfering in the team.

Burley said: "It's complete nonsense to say I'm about to quit the club. I'm enjoying Edinburgh, the set of players I'm working with are tremendous and everything is very positive here.

"I have a good relationship with Mr Romanovand there haveneverbeenany disagreements"It's a different type of manager's job than I'musedtobecauseweeachsuggest playersandbouncenames off eachother.

"It's a little bit different but it has worked very well - and remember Mr Romanov is paying for many of these guys out of his own pocket."

A spokesman for Romanov said: "George is doing a terrific job and Mr Romanov has the ultimate respect for him as a manager. Results on the field suggest the partnership is working well."

Burley is likely to rest Rudi Skacel, Julien Brellier, Takis Fyssas and Roman Bednar tonight and draft in youngsters Christophe Berra and Lee Wallace

Taken from the Daily Record