Don't go breaking my Hearts

As their club becomes a laughing stock, Hearts fans are getting increasingly nervous and restless, writes Shaun Milne

Thursday March 23, 2006

When Hearts announced Graham Rix was to be the club's new coach, the immediate reaction from fans was "who?"

After they did a search on Google it became a "What?".

His record at Oxford United was pretty unimpressive. His other record, the criminal one, was something else altogether. It sparked ugly scenes of protest around Tynecastle from a section of the support unhappy that a man with a conviction for having sex with a minor would be put in charge of the club.

Vladimir Romanov, the millionaire Lithuanian who rescued the club last year, said he had looked into Graham's eyes and seen his desire to win. But what he failed to take into account was just how big a club this is, and how big a job it is managing Hearts.

George Burley, his predecessor, relished the challenge. He helped pull together a team that sparkled on the pitch, guiding us to top of the league, threatening the Old Firm.When he was sacked, many turned on Vlad, accusing him of ruining our season. Others, though, gave him a chance.

Rix came in, looking like a scared rabbit. But the players warmed to him, and that was good enough for most of us. We endured some difficult moments, but it seemed the club was turning a corner.

In the January transfer window, the club signed 11 new players. In that haul was Neil McCann, making a return to Tynecastle having already become a fans' hero because of his role in the 1998 Scottish Cup final win over Rangers. But since then, they have made just 15 appearances between them, mostly as substitutes.

Roman Romanov, acting chief executive, made it clear those new arrivals were a factor in Rix's departure when he said they were disappointed in the signings. Yet they must bear responsibility too, after all, they sanction them, and comments about players still at the club will do little for morale in a team already reeling from another bombshell.

All the while, the fans have grown restless. We have seen the club's challenge for the title falter to a re-invigorated Celtic side. And after the 1-1 draw with Rangers on Sunday, nerves are starting to creep in over the battle for Champions League football next season too, with only the SPL runners-up qualifying alongside Celtic.

After 19 games in charge during his four month spell, Rix has won just nine, lost four, drawn six. Hardly earth shattering compared to the electric start under Burley.

And what a boost this upheaval is for the Old Firm. For the maroon half of Edinburgh the timing, just a week or so before the Scottish Cup semi final against Hibs, probably could not be worse. Few fans will mourn the departure of Rix, but it will undoubtedly shake the players to the core before such an important run of matches.

Club skipper Steven Pressley, who has almost single-handedly held the squad together this season, says he is "bitterly disappointed" for Rix. The players wanted to deliver the Scottish Cup for Rix, and wanted to ensure a place in the biggest European competition of all.

They are professionals, of course, who will dig deep, not just for themselves but for the fans too. But those same fans, who have ensured every home game this season has sold out, are not employees of the club. They will take more convincing that this should have happened now.

The Romanov dynasty has done much for Hearts, keeping them at Tynecastle, and making them genuine challengers. Supporters of the club will allow them latitude to bring success to the Gorgie corner of Edinburgh. But if they don't, there will be a revolution of an altogether different kind. Of that, they can be sure.

Taken from the Guardian/Observer