Replay result will impact on Hearts’ fortunes both on and off the pitch

Published on Tuesday 14 February 2012 03:12

THE Hearts squad travel to Perth tonight knowing that the outcome of their Scottish Cup replay against St Johnstone could have a big impact on the rest of their season on and off the field.

The players are due to receive their February salaries on Thursday, and the club also has to pay a tax bill of around £150,000 in order to escape a winding up order issued last week.

Hearts have said they are confident that the bill will be paid, but, having struggled to pay their players on time in recent months, they will find it hard to meet both commitments.

Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov declared last autumn that henceforth the club would have to pay its own way, but an exception may be made for the tax liability. Even if Romanov did extend his largesse to do that, however, the Hearts board would again have to find alternative funding for their wage bill. If the team progress to the quarter-finals of the cup with victory tonight, the resultant income would make it that much easier for the club to bridge the gap between its commitments and its liabilities.

Having experienced delays to their wages in three of the past four months, the Hearts squad have become accustomed to their employers’ financial difficulties. After an initial dip in form they recovered strongly, and although their last four matches have produced two draws and two defeats, first-team coach Gary Locke believes they remain able to disregard monetary matters while playing.

“It is a huge week, but it is always a huge week,” Locke said, yesterday. “We have got a big fan-base and we are all desperate to do well. It is no different to any other week. The cup game will look after itself and then we face a Motherwell side [in the SPL on Saturday] who are flying at the moment. It is a week we are all looking forward to.

“Of course they can put what is happening off the field to one side. They are professionals and all they want to do is play football.

“If you get a decent cup run, you get TV money and it will help the club financially. I don’t think the players worry about money when they go out on the pitch, it is just about winning the game. I’m pretty sure they will be focused enough to do that.”

Hearts took the lead in the initial fifth-round tie against St Johnstone, but lost it after the visitors had had Dave Mackay sent off for a second bookable offence. The impressive form which St Johnstone showed in that 1-1 draw appeared to desert them at the weekend, when they lost 5-1 at home to Dundee United, but Locke insisted they would still be formidable opponents this evening.

“They have got players who have done very well and Steve Lomas has done a great job as manager since taking over from Derek [McInnes]. It will be a difficult game, but hopefully we can go there and put up a performance.

“They will be hurting after the weekend, but, by all accounts, it was a close game. St Johnstone know they will get a difficult game from us. They played well in the second half [at Tynecastle] when they were down to ten men, and that shows you the character they have within their squad.”

Hearts have done little in the cup since winning the trophy in 2006, but Locke, who was non-playing captain when the club previously won it in 1998, believes it is realistic for the club to expect a good run every season. “I would think winning a cup is an objective,” he said. “I don’t think it is unrealistic for a club of our size to look to win something every season.

“I’ve been involved in a team which has had success. Unfortunately I never played, but it was still a great experience. I am hoping this group of boys can do the same.”

Ian Black is suspended for tonight’s game, but David Templeton may return from injury.

Saints lost 5-1 to United on Saturday, conceding three goals in the final six minutes, and manager Lomas is pleased to have an immediate opportunity to make amends. “It was a very bizarre game, from getting back to 2-1 with eight minutes to go and all of a sudden getting beaten 5-1,” he said. “It was a strange game. I couldn’t really explain it.

“It’s good we’ve got something so close to bounce back, it’s a great game for the club, so it’s something we should be looking forward to.”

Midfielder Murray Davidson could return following an ankle injury. Lomas added: “Murray’s a big part of what we do, his energy and drive in midfield. We’re hopeful he’s going to be fit.”

The Saints manager also has a decision to make in goal after a Peter Enckelman mistake led to a United goal, with Alan Mannus waiting for his opportunity.

Lomas, who was coy on whether he would change goalkeepers, said: “Peter made a mistake on Saturday. All the other players can make a mistake and get away with it, goalkeepers get punished. We’re very lucky we’ve got two very good goalkeepers at the club.”

Tonight’s winners will be at home to St Mirren or Ross County in the quarter-finals.

Taken from the Scotsman