MURRAYFIELD VERDICT DISAPPOINTS RIX

Hearts head coach Graham Rix is disappointed with the decision to stage the all-Edinburgh Tennent's Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park.

Jambos fans want the club to challenge the Scottish Football Association, who rejected the Tynecastle outfit's request to stage the April 2 game against Hibernian in the capital at the 67,800-capacity Murrayfield.

Hibs manager Tony Mowbray questioned the neutrality of Murrayfield, citing Hearts' UEFA Cup games at the ground in 2004 as a possible advantage.

Rix sympathises with the supporters who will have to travel through to Glasgow on a Sunday but admits there is little he can do about the situation.

The Hearts boss told the Edinburgh Evening News: "I was only thinking from the supporters' point of view.

"I thought, logistically, Murrayfield made far more sense. It was just far more convenient for everyone who is going to the game.

"Getting to Hampden will be difficult for the fans, but the decision has been made now and I'm not sure how they will feel about it.

"Our preference as a club was Murrayfield but it will now be at Hampden and we will just have to get on with it.

"It is a massive match for us and we will be fully focused when the time comes to play it."

Hearts legend Gary Mackay has backed the decision to keep the game in Glasgow.

After leading the campaign against a plan by then Hearts chairman Chris Robinson to make a permanent move to Murrayfield in 2004, former Jambos midfielder Mackay believes playing at the rugby stadium would be a backwards step.

Mackay said: "I have said from the outset, the semi-final should be played at Hampden Park and I haven't deviated from that.

"I never thought Murrayfield was a football stadium when we had a daft former chairman trying to take us there and I don't think it is any more of a football stadium now."

Taken from sportinglife.com