‘A man needs to work and get back his pride, I suppose . . . ’

ROB ROBERTSON November 18 2005

Lunchtime on Thursday at Hearts' training academy and Graham Rix is handed a pile of good-luck cards as he sits down in his room. It is, understandably, a bit spartan as he has just moved in, although a picture of the first-team squad, which still features George Burley, the departed manager, hangs above the table in the corner.

On his desk are documents, football manuals and faxes which have been sent to him since he took over at Tynecastle. He enters in a Hearts tracksuit and tammy, sweating after a morning session on the training field. As we talk, there is a clear demarcation line on topics up for discussion.

When it comes to football, the former Arsenal man's face lights up and he talks 10 to the dozen about what was a magnificent playing career. Anyone who saw him play will remember him as having a sweet left foot and, on his game, he was as refined a talent as his celebrated team-mate, Liam Brady.

When it comes to the six months he spent in prison for having sex with an under-age girl, he is decidedly more circumspect.

It is the decision by Hearts to appoint a man with such a conviction as coach of a family club which has split their supporters. The number of cards which sits on his table from well-wishers suggest they may be prepared to give the Englishman a second chance and the tide may be turning in his favour.

I put it to him that, as a father of two daughters, I felt uncomfortable and angry about being put in the position of having to explain to them the nature of his conviction when they heard the debate rage on television after he was appointed Hearts coach.

I suggest that people like me were not making moral judgments but were concerned they had been bounced into explaining things to their children before they wanted to because of the actions of a football club.

Could he understand that point of view? "Well, yeah, I can understand that but . . . I'm not sure what you want me to say," said Rix. He makes it clear, in a polite way, when I try to return to the subject, that he would not be mentioning details of his court case or saying anything about it during this interview or any other during his time at Hearts.

Asked whether he regretted applying for the job or whether he felt he had been right to do so in the first place, Rix is adamant that it was something he had to do, and points out that his family had supported his decision.

"When it [the court case] first happened, which was a long, long time ago, my family went through hell, and so did I," said Rix. "I felt the ferocity of the Fleet Street press at that time but, since then, things settled down. Then, all of a sudden, things started again when I came to this job. I was a little bit shocked at the reaction.

"I don't regret applying, absolutely not. The people who matter to me were dying for me to get back into football in some capacity. If that means we have to go through a bit of crap, so be it. They back me 100%."

He realises that being given the Hearts job was a great opportunity for him and believes it was worth the grief. "My wife said she noticed the difference in me straight away," said Rix. "I would be a little bit of a liar if I said I was not a bit nervous when taking the boys for training on the first day but I have had nothing but positive reaction from them.

"It's okay being unemployed – it certainly helps your garden and golfing handicap – but the time comes when you think you are wasting away and you want to get back to what you do best. A man needs to work and get back his pride, I suppose. I want to work for myself and again, without [intending to] sound big-headed, I think I have something to offer.

"People say I have only a six- months contract to the end of the season but big Alex McLeish, who I know and like, has only three games, so everything has to be put in context."

When the talk turns to football, his mood lightens. Even the thought of running the gauntlet of taunts from Aberdeen fans during Sunday's match at Pittodrie does not seem to faze him.

"It is not nice getting obscenities shouted at you but they don't know the full situation. If they are shouting at me, they are not shouting at my players, so you have to look at a positive in every situation. I know there will be press coverage, photographers round the dugout, but I expect that."

What he did not mention was that, to add to the massive interest, Setanta will broadcast the game live throughout the world.

Asked how much he had learned about himself and how much mental strength he had needed to take the pressure over the past 10 days, he shrugs his shoulders. "I don't want to harp on about it. Having people shout abuse at me is not the hardest thing I have had to deal with in my life. I have been through a lot worse. If I can get through other situations I can get through people shouting abuse at me."

Rix is excited about the quality of players he has inherited from Burley, and the facilities at the Hearts youth academy. "I have taken over a club which is top of the league and flying, which has good players, a great set-up, and everybody is absolutely buzzing.

"I have no problems taking over a club at the top of the league. I have been in charge at Portsmouth when we lost 11 out of our last 15 games and were three points away from the drop zone, and we won on the last day of the season to stay up. I know which sort of pressure I would rather have. This is a dream job."

Rix, who is staying in a local hotel, added: "I have had little contact with Vladimir [Romanov, the club's biggest single shareholder] but speak to Roman [his son, the chairman] at least three times a day and see him most evenings, when we sit down and have a chat. He has been absolutely fantastic. He is very ambitious and here for the long run.

"Also, the place I am staying in is full of Hearts fans. The chef did me a lovely Dover sole last night and even the taxi driver who took me round the city, who was a Rangers fan, wished me well."

Through the interview, Rix chats about the music of Bob Dylan, who played in Glasgow last night, and the Leeds United team of the early 1970s which included Eddie Gray and Billy Bremner, the team he loved to watch. He clearly has a good memory of music and football but only time will tell if Hearts fans can forget his past.

Taken from the Herald