MURRAYFIELD-MAD GAZ OVAL THE MOON

GARY MACKAY fought long and hard to keep Hearts out of Murrayfield and established at their spiritual home of Tynecastle.

But tomorrow night he'll proudly walk into the home of Scottish rugby to support the club as they attempt to overcome Bosnians Siroki Brijeg and continue their Champions League adventure.

That's the only cause the former midfielder thinks is worth fighting for today.

Mackay, who once staged a pitch demonstration to help remove the club's previous owner Chris Robinson, said: "It is the strides the club has made under Vladimir Romanov that's important.

"Who would have believed a couple of years ago that Hearts would be in this position?

"That's the achievement I want to embrace and show my support for, whether it's inside Murrayfield or not.

"I can remember playing in front of crowds that were less than 5000-strong inside Tynecastle in less successful days and hearing every word of abuse that was aimed at me.

"Now we have a team capable of getting 10 times that number. The atmosphere on the night Hearts beat Aberdeen to finish second in the SPL last season was something that will live with me for a long time but I can understand the reasons why it makes economic sense to play our European matches at Murrayfield."

Mackay can also feel the pain of previous heartaches throughout Hearts' history when they were on the verge of major achievement, only to see fate leave them empty-handed.

He said: "That's why I'd say the Bosnians could only be underestimated at our peril.

"But Steven Pressley will play the captain's role and remind the players that, after the close call against Gretna in the Scottish Cup Final last May, nothing can be taken for granted."

Taken from the Daily Record