Remember that time we nearly went bust and STILL beat Hibs!

That's what John McGlynn hopes Hearts fans can say in years to come

By ROBERT MARTIN
Published: 3 hrs ago
THE open-top bus will stay parked in the garage even if Hearts manage to beat Hibs today.

And tomorrow morning thousands of Jambos fans will head to their work instead of lining the streets of Edinburgh.

But John McGlynn reckons a win at Easter Road today would be on a par with Hearts’ Scottish Cup triumph in May.

Because given everything that’s gone on since, die-hard fans would treasure this one just as much.

The Jambos boss will drag a Tynecastle club on its knees across the capital this afternoon.

A number of the players who helped Paulo Sergio lift the Cup last season are nowhere to be seen.

And several more could leave in just a few weeks as the struggling club tries to cut even more costs.

Waiting for them will be a Hibs side — and support — desperate to avenge their Hampden humiliation.

Which is why McGlynn believes a victory would mean just as much as that one did then.

He said: “I think it would, yes. Everyone who was at Hampden and Hearts-minded will have those memories for their rest of their lives.

“It was a special day, a great occasion and it couldn’t have gone any better from a Hearts point of view.

“But the circumstances are completely different now.

“A few weeks ago we were looking at the football club possibly going into administration or even liquidation.

“So in many ways this would be every bit as big a victory.

“There is a big battle going on at this club right now, the battle for survival.

“So this game might become even more significant in years to come.

“Fans will say ‘Remember when we were just about out of business yet we went and beat Hibs’. And everyone lived happily ever after!”

Off the field matters have dominated events at the Gorgie club in recent weeks.

Regular bulletins from the club have pleaded with fans to buy shares and tickets.

But today the sole focus of every Hearts supporter will be back on football.

And McGlynn can’t wait to put his side up against Pat Fenlon’s men.

He said: “The board of directors have to take care of the financial side of things.

“Now we have to focus on football and everything else will be secondary come kick-off time.

“And that goes for the players as well.

“It’s a relief for them to be training and playing and away from everything else.

“And winning this game would provide a massive feelgood factor for everyone involved with the club.”

Hearts go into today’s game unbeaten in 12 league and cup capital clashes.

Hibs boss Fenlon has hinted he felt the vast difference in the club’s budgets over the past few years was the main reason for that.

But McGlynn reckons it’s far too easy to put the difference between the sides down to hard cash.

He believes Hearts’ mentality, more than their money, has been the key factor.

He said: “Momentum is a massive thing. So is self-belief and confidence.

“Instead of thinking you are going to win, you actually know you are going to because you go in with such self-belief. The players may have changed, but it’s a club thing isn’t it?

“Everyone has contributed over a period of time to build that up, over three or four seasons.

“I think it’s something that’s happened over the course.

“I’m not sure about the money thing.

“I remember Graeme Souness and Walter Smith winning nine-in-a-row with Rangers and they still picked up the manager of the year awards.

“Nobody said ‘Yeah, but you spent more money than us’. They still got the trophies.

“It’s football. It’s not an exact science.

“If it was, William Hill and Ladbrokes would be closed down as all the favourites would win every week. Attitude is everything, it is so, so important.”

Director Sergejus Fedotovas suggested on Friday that should the Jambos’ financial position improve then players may be brought in during the January window.

McGlynn, though, admits he would be surprised if that actually happened.

And although Hearts expect to settle their £450,000 bill with HMRC tomorrow, the club’s future remains anything but secure.

He said: “I don’t know if Sergejus was misinterpreted, but I’m not sure about that.

“He obviously knows a lot more about what is going on than I do.

“But considering we were getting threatened with being closed down, I wouldn’t imagine we would be going out to buy players.

“That would be the other extreme. I’m not trying to contradict him in any way, shape or form, that’s not what I’m here to do.

“But I would find it difficult to be buying players in these circumstances.

“I’m not sure that was the message he was looking to put out, but to raise standards.

“I’m sure he realises we have to bring in more money.

“I think there is light at the end of the tunnel but we are still in the tunnel — we’re not out the other end yet.

“We can see the light, but it’s still a bit away.”