HIBS v HEARTS

Today, kick-off 12.15pm

Live Sky Sports

TONY MOWBRAY might cast an envious eye across the capital at Hearts' massive budget for players - but one glance across the Hampden dugouts today will remind him money doesn't buy happiness.

Incredibly, this will be the FOURTH Hearts manager Mowbray has gone up against in an Edinburgh derby for this season alone.

George Burley, caretaker John McGlynn, Graham Rix. They all pitted their wits against Mogga in this famous fixture but none survived in the job long enough to face him again when the next derby came around.

Now the biggest one of the lot is here, the biggest in decades in fact with a Scottish Cup final place at stake, and with it comes yet another new face in Valdas Ivanauskas.

Mowbray doesn't expect the Lithuanian to do anything different from his predecessors with a Jambos side sticking rigidly to a winning formula all season, so sees no advantage to Hibs from the latest upheaval to rock their rivals.

But that doesn't mean there isn't a rich collection of good points Tony can take from the latest whim of Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov who seems to change his managers as often as some less hygienic characters may change their socks.

For a start the revolving door in the Tynecastle manager's office underlines what a good relationship Mowbray enjoys with his chairman, Rod Petrie.

Their set-up could not be further from the atmosphere at Hearts where Ivanauskas must surely look over his shoulder for the axe if his side loses today then surrenders second place in the SPL to Rangers.

While Romanov notoriously tried to meddle in team affairs Mowbray insists Petrie hasn't even mentioned whether the team has played well or not during their morning sitdowns before training.

And why should he when he has a big enough job of his own to do? Both men realise they have neither the right nor the expertise to interfere in the other's affairs. The clear boundaries have fostered a harmony that filters through to the confidence on which Mowbray's team thrives.

He knows that, unlike Ivanauskas, his future does not hang on this semi or a handful of games in the run-in.

And it's that assured security which allows Mogga to convey a sense of calm in his players as they step into the fury of a 50-50 split derby crowd at the National Stadium.

He said: "Every football board has its own ideas about how to run the club. Mr Romanov's not the only chairman who wants to know what's going on and comes down to see.

"My chairman doesn't come in the dressing-room after games or go dancing around when we win or scream and yell if we lose.

"For me that works well but I know somewhere down the line I could have a chairman who wants to be in there with the lads and be a part of it. And as long as it's not interfering with what you are doing, upsetting the equilibrium, I don't see any problem with that.

"But it doesn't happen at Hibs. I'm two years into my first managerial job and I suppose lucky enough to have a good working relationship and understanding of how I would like things to be done.

"The chairman isn't interested in telling me which players I might buy.

"He doesn't even comment on whether the team have been good or bad or whether we were lucky or unlucky. He's just happy to listen to me talking sometimes.

"It's no good my chairman saying 'that was rubbish, what's going on?' because what's your qualifications to tell me I'm rubbish?

"I wouldn't tell him how to run a club because I'm not qualified to tell him about what bank interest rates to get. It's not my business. Together we can discuss things but he gets on with his job and I get on with mine. I think we both respect each other's abilities to do the job.

"I don't know what's happened with Graham Rix or George Burley. But it might have been something as basic as a clash of cultures with the chairman. Maybe that's what he does.

"But four new managers in the one season? It's not just new to Scottish football, it's probably new to British football where consistency of coaches seems to have brought most rewards.

"Alex Ferguson is the classic case of someone who has spent 20 years at a club and has spent 12 of them winning trophies.

"But they could have probably got rid of him after four when he hadn't won anything.

"At Hearts, someone with another philosophy and culture is making decisions different to what we are all used to. Such a high percentage of coaches going through so quickly is maybe i pretty common in Russia but it's making news here.

"However, if Hearts finish as high in the table as they are now, and if they are successful in the cup - let's I hope not!-the guy will ask what was all the fuss about."

Mowbray admits Hearts' resources and league form make them favourites today but has belief in a side that has already upset the odds in the cup this year.

He said: "The financial gap is obvious. I'd even hazard a guess Gretna's budget may be more than ours.

"So while we are underdogs because of the resources of the two clubs it doesn't mean we've got less chance of winning.

"We have a fantastic squad."

Taken from the Sunday Mail