I'M GLAD THAT THE DONS FANS WILL BE ABUSING ME AND NOT MY PLAYERS

HEARTS coach Graham Rix would love to hear the sound of silence at Aberdeen because it would mean his team are still at the summit of the SPL.

The former Chelsea No.2 takes charge of the Jambos for the first time tomorrow and must be wondering if he is about to jump into the dugout at Pittodrie or a set of wooden stocks.

Tongues have been clacked into sharpened points as the moral majority prepare to express outrage, in true football fashion, at a man they don't even know.

If it wasn't Aberdeen, it would be Dundee, Glasgow, Motherwell or Leith and Rix, who neither courts nor craves sympathy, admits its inevitability after his conviction for a sex offence seven years ago.

Rix was as upbeat with the press yesterday as he has been with his players in training all week and he praised the effort and welcome given to him from everyone at the club. Ultimately, he knows the only way the home support will be hushed is if Hearts turn on the style.

He said: "It will not really affect me in anyway. I appreciate Aberdeen are trying to do

"They're shouting every weekend at somebody and this week it's me.

"At least they're not shouting at my lads and they can concentrate on the game. I hope if we'rewinning it might stop them shouting a little bit.'

Pressure Rix was then asked if there was evenmorepressureonhim to ensure people only spoke about him in the context of football, rather then previous events.

He added:"If people keep bringing it up then they won't talk about football, will they?

"I'm here because I'm a football guy and I want to talk about the game.

"Hopefully, after the match on Sunday I'll be talking about what a great performance the lads put in and how delighted I am with the result. That's the kind of press conference I want.

"But I don't want to get results so people will talk to me only about football. I want to get results because I want Hearts to be successful.

"It's not about me at all, it's about Hearts as a club - its players, staff and supporters and not one individual."

Rix has already posted an open letter to fans on the Jambos kickback website.

He added: "The supporters have been fantastic. Everywhere I've gone people have had nothing but positive things to say to me.

"I really appreciate it and that's why I took the step of replying to every email and good luck message.

"But it's not just supporters - John McGlynn, for example, has been absolutely fantastic with me.

"I'm also pleased I've had time to get to know the lads.

"They have responded so well and everything I've asked them to do they have given me100 per cent."

Rix was impressed with the pace and aggression of Hearts when he watched them demolish Dundee United 3-0 a fortnight ago and won't make widespread changes to the teamdevelopedunder GeorgeBurley. He refuses to put them under pressure by setting lofty ambitions early in his reign, though acknowledged the SPL title is the prize Vladimir Romanov craves most.

Rix said: "Undoubtedly,we've got a chance of winning the league - note I said a chance - and we also have the opportunity of qualifying for Europe through two competitions.

"I'm not putting the players under any pressure by setting targets but I know from the response I've had in the last fortnight they'll be giving it their best shot in every game.

"I want to win the league - all the players do - but I don't think it's a case of we have to win it for me to stay in the job.

"The most important thing is the players believe in what I'm saying and I certainly believe in them.'

Revenge Rix admits he will rely heavily on McGlynn's knowledge at Pittodrie tomorrow as the Dons seek revenge after going down 2-0 at Tynecastle in the first quarter of the campaign.

He added: "I want to hit the ground running and that would also be important for the lads, but again I don't want to put them under too much pressure.

"If we win on Sunday it doesn't mean we'll win the league. Likewise, if we lose it doesn't mean our chance has gone.

"A win or defeat won't make or break our season but after all that has happened in the last few weeks a victory would be a massive boost for the club, the squad and our fans

Taken from the Daily Record