Tynecastle drama fails to benefit Dunfermline

By Ian Roache

IN THE days leading up to Dunfermline’s trip to face Hearts, there were rumblings about one manager’s position being under threat.

Pars boss Jim Leishman, it was said, had his jacket hanging on a shoogly peg after being given the dreaded vote of confidence by chairman John Yorkston.

So, when word started filtering through that there was shock news coming out of Tynecastle, you feared the worst.

Thankfully, Leishman’s fighting talk about his position not being under threat was vindicated and he was there in the dugout alongside coach Craig Robertson.

Missing, though, was Hearts boss George Burley, having parted company with the SPL leaders in the most dramatic of circumstances (see Page 22).

“I was looking forward to seeing George as he is a smashing guy,” said Leishman.

“I remember he was at the Scottish schoolboys as a youngster and I remember him from there.

“I crossed swords when he was manager at Ayr United and he will have his reasons but I wish him all the best.

“I do not know the situation but he was top of the league. He was a great player with Ipswich, he was a great football guy and he had a lot to offer.”

Of more concern to the Pars boss, though, was that his team fell to a 2-0 defeat, hit by two goals in three first-half minutes from Rudi Skacel and Michal Pospisil.

“Before the game you hear the news (about Burley) and it is either going to give Hearts a really positive reaction or they are going to switch off a wee bit,” added Leishman.

“You know which one we were hoping for but Hearts started really well.

“For the first 15 to 20 minutes they put us under a lot of pressure but I thought we were getting through that.

“Then Skacel scored out of nothing. That is what the boy is good at, he has been doing it all season.

“Then grabbing the second goal quickly after that put us under pressure.”

The Pars did pick up a bit after the interval without ever really threatening to loosen the home side’s grip on the game.

“In the second half we were a lot better,” added Leishman.

“Lee Makel, Gary Mason and Mark Burchill had chances but the difference was that we didn’t score.

“We bucked up and could have sneaked back in it but unfortunately didn’t.”

Improvement is required if they are to take anything off Hibs at home on Wednesday night but they will be without defender Scott Wilson, who had to come off suffering from a groin problem.

It is hoped, however, that Noel Hunt will have shaken off the illness that ruled him out on Saturday.

“Facts are facts and it was another defeat for us,” added Leishman.

“In the first quarter of the season, we have gathered five points and that is not acceptable.

“We think we are a better team than that, but the fact is we are second bottom of the league.”

Hearts coach John McGlynn was the man given the task of taking temporary charge in the wake of Burley’s exit and he was pleased with a result that kept them clear of chasing Celtic.

“It was plain for everyone to see we showed the desire to keep the unbeaten run going,” he said.

McGlynn, who saw skipper Steven Pressley get sent off in the final minute for a last-man foul on Darren Young, was only told of his new role on matchday morning by major shareholder Vladimir Romanov.

“I had a meeting with Mr Romanov at the back of 11 and he addressed the players at 11.45. He asked me to take the team.

“I didn’t have the chance to speak to George. I didn’t get an explanation, I was told it was a mutual agreement that there was a parting of ways.”

McGlynn, who has twice acted as caretaker in the wake of the departures of Craig Levein and John Robertson over the last 12 months, admits this news was a shock.

“It came out of the blue more this time than the other times,” he said. “There was speculation with Craig Levein going to Leicester and we all knew something was happening and there was speculation about John Robertson leaving.

“It’s not the best timing on the day of the match.

“You can’t always have the best timing as a coach but it could have been better.

“The players left training on Friday, then turn up for the pre-match meal and find out they don’t have a manager.”

Taken from the Courier