Hearts boss Gary Locke says power in capital is not shifting to Hibs and insists future is bright

By Gary Ralston

LOCKE dismissed the claim by Derek Riordan that a win by Hibs in the Edinburgh derby on Sunday will mark the first shift in power between the clubs in 30 years and says the emergence of new talent at Hearts shows they can remain in the ascendancy.

HEARTS are lying in the financial gutter but Gary Locke is looking at the stars that will keep them kings of the capital.

Former Hibs striker Derek Riordan told Record Sport a win for Pat Fenlon’s side in the Edinburgh derby on Sunday will mark the first shift in power between the clubs in 30 years.

Hibs have won just two derbies at home in the SPL in seven years, the most recent in March 2009 when Steven Fletcher scored the only goal.

They won revenge, of sorts, for their 5-1 Scottish Cup Final humiliation last season with a 1-0 win in the fourth round of this season’s competition.

Hibs have since marched on to the semi-final and remain in the hunt to play European football next season with the club’s balance sheet almost as strong as Fenlon’s squad.

Hearts, on the other hand, have been deserted by Vladimir Romanov and their very future remains in doubt following the collapse of Ukio Bankas and a string of resignations from the board of their majority shareholder Ubig.

Hearts are unlikely to make the top six and a clutch of top earners are likely to leave the club in the summer as further cost-cutting measures are introduced.

But it’s not just the League Cup Final against St Mirren at Hampden looming on Sunday week that has Locke in bullish mood after his side ended a run of five straight defeats with a 2-0 defeat of St Johnstone.

Ahead of the visit across town, he points to the emergence of talents such as Jason Holt, Kevin McHattie, Jamie Walker, Fraser Mullen and Callum Tapping as evidence they can remain in the ascendancy.

Locke said: “I certainly wouldn’t say there has been a power shift.

“They beat us in a cup-tie earlier this season but the games have been so close and there is nothing between the sides.

“Certainly, over the past few years we have had by far the better of the derbies so I don’t think you can say the power is shifting.

Edinburgh Castle Both sides will be desperate to prove they are top dogs in Edinburgh
Getty Images

“As everybody knows we are having a transitional season and there has been a lot happening off the field and on it in terms of personnel.

“However, we can still have a successful season if we go on a wee run and when I look at our younger players I believe the future is very bright.

“All the young lads have been fantastic and in the League Cup semi-final against Inverness recently they were exceptional.

“That’s why this club has a bright future. We have a lot of players coming through and next season you’ll see them improve still further.”

Romanov’s financial recklessness has left Hearts open to wind-ups from their bitter rivals in Leith that will be unsurpassed in modern history.

Jambos have been holding up six fingers to mock their rivals after last season’s Scottish Cup Final success but Locke won’t take two digits and stuff them in his ears to block the taunts that will invariably sweep down from three sides of Easter Road.

He added: “I don’t thing it will matter at all. It has been normal in my time as a Hearts players that you take a fair bit of stick when you go to Easter Road.

“It’s good-natured – Hearts fans would be exactly the same if Hibs were in the position we’re in.

“As long as the banter is used in the right way it’s all right. Hibs get plenty of stick when they come to Tynecastle, we are the same when we go to their place.

“We know how difficult it will be. Pat has turned them around and signed a lot of talented players. They are a very different team from the one which played in the Scottish Cup Final.”

Locke is especially wary of on-form Leigh Griffiths, who scored a hat-trick in last weekend’s 4-2 Scottish Cup win at Kilmarnock to take his tally for the season to 22.

He also netted 11 times last season after joining from Wolves on loan and with 70 appearances in total for his boyhood favourites he is averaging almost a goal every second game.

Griffiths has made as many headlines for his off-the-field antics as his on-field exploits but Locke sympathises from personal experience growing up in public in Edinburgh.

Locke added: “I watched Hibs last week and Leigh has been first class this season. His movement and touch and the goals he has scored this season have been fantastic. All credit to the lad, he puts up with a lot being a local guy and a lot of people have it in for him, but not me.

“I can identify with what he has gone through as it was the same for myself and the likes of Gary Mackay and Scott Crabbe.

“Over at Hibs, Ian Murray, Derek Riordan and Garry O’Connor have been through it all as well.

“It can be difficult being a local boy but this season Leigh has knuckled down and is playing the best football of his career.

“He is the form striker in the league. We’ll have to be wary of him but in derbies so far we’ve done quite well against him..

“We know how dangerous he can be but we have players who can cause them problems too.

“If we concentrate on what we do and play as we did against St Johnstone on Tuesday night then I’m confident we can secure a result.”

Locke is still in the dark about his future at the club, with the Tynecastle hierarchy having drawn up a list of potential replacements for John McGlynn which includes John Robertson, Peter Houston and Derek McInnes.

He is likely to be in the dugout on Sunday, no matter what, and if he is the man calling the shots he maintains his passion for his team will be channelled to the players on the pitch, not the punters in the stand.

He added: “I’ve been involved in a lot of derbies as a coach. Once the game starts you must shut out the stuff that goes on off the pitch.

“If you’re bothering about the fans you’re going to miss things happening on the pitch.

“But I’ve no idea whether I will be in charge for the derby. I’m preparing the team at the moment and if anything happens then great.

“If not it’s business as usual.”

Taken from the Daily Record