Milne has no regrets on making Gorgie return

FORMER Hearts star Kenny Milne today insisted he has no regrets about quitting the Gorgie club.

The 26-year-old spent five years at Tynecastle before dropping down a division to join Partick Thistle in the summer of 2002.

The financial problems being experienced at Tynecastle at the time meant the promise of a new contract never materialised and he was forced to pursue his career elsewhere.

With Hearts currently striving for a Champions League place, the defender could have been forgiven for having a tinge of regret over the way things have worked out.

But, as he prepares to visit Tynecastle again in the dark blue of Falkirk on Boxing Day, Milne isn't one to wonder what might have been.

"If the financial situation had been different I might have still been at Hearts," he said. "But there is no point in dwelling on the past. It's more important to think about the future and I'm really enjoying my football with Falkirk.

"I had a lot of injuries at Hearts but I'm fit now and hoping to do myself justice."

Some onlookers have claimed that, by booting George Burley out of the club, owner Vladimir Romanov pressed the self-destruct button on his chances of title glory.

But Bairns star Milne, pictured during his Jambo days, right, isn't one to subscribe to such a theory.

"Let's face it, they are just four points behind Celtic at the top of the table," he said.

"They got off to a flyer under George Burley and were playing some great stuff when they were at the top of the league. They were all disappointed when he left the club but the fact is that Graham Rix still has the same players at his disposal. It's not as if there have been a lot of changes or loads of players have left.

"The quality is still there and there's no doubt in my mind they will start to click again. Hopefully it's not on Monday against us."

He added: "Four points is nothing and there is such a long way to go in the season.

"It's great that a team like Hearts are up there challenging the Old Firm as in years gone by it would have been a two-horse race by this stage.

"I know a lot of people have been talking about their bad run but it's not as if they have been losing a lot of games.

"At the start of this season, if the supporters had been offered the chance to be just four points Celtic in second place in the SPL I'm sure they'd have grabbed it. That's why I don't think they should be too concerned at the current situation."

Since leaving Tynecastle, Milne has returned in opposition colours on a number of occasions but has yet to savour the taste of victory against his former employers.

With John Hughes' side looking to continue their impressive away form in the Capital he's hoping for a belated Christmas present as he attempts to put that record straight.

"I love going back to Tynecastle as it's such a great stadium to play football in," he said. "I have been back a few times since I left but have never won there. Hopefully I can change that on Monday."

Another sell-out home crowd will be packed into the ground to roar on Rix's side but Milne, who joined the Bairns in the summer on a two-year deal, claimed that won't necessarily prove to be a huge advantage.

He said: "They have been getting big crowds this season but that can also work against teams. The fans' expectations have been built up because of their superb start and that is understandable. But if we can put Hearts under pressure then maybe we can get the crowd going a bit and that will work in our favour. We are trying to pick up as many points as we can in every game and the priority for us has to be just to stay in the league this season so we will be giving it our best shot."

Milne looked on from afar as first Burley then Phil Anderton and George Foulkes left the club in rapid succession as controversy engulfed Hearts in October.

"Everyone was watching and wondering what was going on but I'm not there so can't really comment," Milne said as he prepared to line up at centre-half.

"As I have said, they still have quality and the likes of Rudi Skacel and Julien Brellier have been impressive this season.

"It is going to be tough but we did well against them earlier in the campaign when we destroyed them in the first half and were 2-0 up. We sat back after that, though, invited them on us and they scored a late equaliser.

"That was when they were going really well so we can take confidence from that and head to Tynecastle looking to take something from the game."

Taken from the Scotsman