THESE have been turbulent times at Tynecastle. The sacking of Burley was shocking, the removal of Anderton and Foulkes inexplicable. Furthermore, the appointment of Rix was an utter disgrace. He had no track record and a whole lot of unwelcome baggage. Bringing in Duffy was a further slap in the face for the fans.

All that said, the decision to sack Rix was the right one. If you look at his SPL record, the verdict is damning: 24 points from a possible 48. Five wins, four defeats, six draws and just four clean sheets. Mid-table form. In the short space of time that he managed Hearts, they went from being two points ahead of Celtic to 17 behind. Seventeen!

The media provided terribly biased coverage in the aftermath. Words like "crisis", "turmoil" and "farce" encapsulated their mood; the fans were, apparently, "sick" and "let down". What they failed to show, shamefully, was that a large number of Hearts fans, perhaps even the majority, were pleased by the decision. Romanov had to stop the rot.

Had either Old Firm manager performed as Rix did, there would have been a media witch-hunt. The tabloids would have been up in arms. But we're only little old Hearts, so it doesn't matter. We shouldn't expect any more than third place.

In the absence of the sort of pressure exerted externally on Rangers and Celtic, Romanov is having to provide it himself. Inconsistency is no longer acceptable. We must win every game. Although I don't agree with everything he has done, I admire Romanov for demanding this success.

I hope in a decade or so, the media will take us seriously and exert pressure on Hearts to win consistently. Until then, Romanov will have to do it himself.

Roland Tye Via e-mail
Time to take a stand

I ATTENDED the Hearts v Hibs semi-final at Hampden, and though delighted with the result, my pleasure was ruined by spectators in front standing up every few minutes when the action crossed the centre line towards the Hibs defence.

I understand that most Hearts fans are very passionate about their team, but the exhortation on two information screens for spectators to sit at all times was ignored for about 50% of the game - and for all of the last ten minutes. There was not one public-address announcement about spectators remaining in their seats, and stewards ignored the problem.

We asked police twice during the first half, and at half-time, to do something or at least to make a public-address announcement.

They did nothing, and seemed scared to intervene. "There are hundreds of them," was a quote from one of Glasgow's finest. At my second time of asking, they asked me, ironically, to return to my seat!

It is time for action at Hampden. I urge the authorities to put suitable plans in place for the cup final. Please.

Peter Henry Edinburgh
Jefferies merits praise

IN THE tireless attempt to expose conspiracies against Celtic, your correspondent Ian Mitchell last week (Letters) took aim at what many less emotional observers would think to be a most unlikely target: the Scottish Football Writers' Association.

He is annoyed that there has been any dissenting opinion to his view that Gordon Strachan should be named manager of the year.

If many Celtic fans are still not convinced by Strachan, football writers cannot be criticised for merely considering the merits of Jim Jefferies. No-one can deny that he has punched well above his weight by competing for a UEFA Cup slot with Kilmarnock in a season when many felt that avoiding relegation was their best-case scenario after severe financial cutbacks.

David Johnstone Glasgow

Give credit that's due

IAN MITCHELL makes a sarcastic remark about Jim Jefferies achieving "some miracle" at Kilmarnock. What Jefferies has done is far better, pound for pound, than anything that Gordon Strachan will ever achieve.

I am a season-ticket holder at Kilmarnock, who did not want Jefferies as manager, but I was wrong. He and Billy Brown have done a tremendous job, with ever-diminishing resources and a much lesser squad in terms of ability.

Get rid of your green-tinted spectacles and look at the bigger picture. I suggest to all similar-minded people: please learn to give credit where credit is due, and show a bit of respect and humility to others.

It is because of such attitudes that emanate from so many Old Firm fans that the vast majority of fans who support other sides have no time for either team.

Derek Palmer Via e-mail
Champions of nothing

HAVING sat through, for the third time this season, 90 minutes that saw Hearts completely outplay Celtic, it is clear that we have title-holders who are champions of nothing.

It is only in the joke arena of Scottish football, with clowns acting as officials, that Celtic could have won anything.

The Scottish Cup winners- elect are, without doubt, the finest team in Scotland. Next season will see that superiority gain the championship that it merits.

Ron Delnevo London

Taken from the Scotsman