Lennon concern at Hearts situation

Graeme Macpherson
Football Writer
Saturday 18 May 2013

NEIL LENNON believes the Clydesdale Bank Premier League cannot afford to lose another major club as Hearts wait to discover whether they will be relegated as a consequence of their parent company becoming insolvent.

Ukio Banko Investicine Grupe (UBIG), who control around four-fifths of Hearts' shareholding, have been placed on a list of companies "unable or unwilling to meet their obligations" in their native Lithuania.

The Scottish Premier League board will meet on Monday to decide whether this means the Tynecastle club have broken rules surrounding insolvency events. If they decide that is the case, Hearts will be deducted 18 points and relegated to the first division. Lennon has not always enjoyed the warmest of welcomes at Tynecastle but said he would not like to see Hearts go the way of Rangers by leaving the top division.

"The last thing we need is another big club going out of the SPL," the Celtic manager said. "It is the crowds Hearts bring, particularly at Tynecastle. When we go through there it is predominantly a full house. I went to the Scottish Cup final last year [when Hearts beat Hibernian] and, as a neutral, the spectacle was fantastic.

"I didn't realise how bad [Hearts' situation] was until last night. Their players have had it rough over the past few years and have shown tremendous loyalty but they seem to have deteriorated rapidly as a club. You don't want to lose them but rules are rules."

Celtic are away to Dundee United in their final league game of the season tomorrow. Kelvin Wilson said Scott Brown's return to the squad after six weeks out following hip surgery had given everyone a boost.

The captain featured in last week's win against St Johnstone and looks certain to play a part in the Scottish Cup final against Hibs next Sunday. Wilson said: "He gives us that energy and it seems to run through the team. He is good to have around the place. It didn't surprise me he was so sharp right away. He can run all day and is a good athlete."

Taken from the Herald