The night I knew our number was up

By ROBERT MARTIN
Published: 4 hrs ago

GARY MACKAY takes absolutely no pleasure in saying it.

But the Hearts legend knew the day come when he woke up to find his beloved Jambos on the brink.

Mackay insists the signs have been there for the past three years that all was not well with Vladimir Romanov’s crumbing empire.

And he just hopes Hearts can somehow find a way to emerge from the wreckage.

Romanov’s UBIG asked to be placed into insolvency in Lithuania on Thursday, plunging the Jambos’ top-flight future into doubt.

SPL lawyers are trying to decide if it means Hearts themselves have breached the league’s strict rules on insolvency. If so the Jambos will be hit with an immediate 17-point penalty and be relegated.

And Mackay, who played for Hearts when they were last in the First Division 30 years ago, admits he would be devastated to see them return there.

He said: “It is scary to think Hearts could go down to the First Division. Especially just 15 months after the most momentous result in our history when we beat Hibs 5-1 in the Cup Final.

“I would be gutted for every fan out there and for Gary Locke as well. Every fan will have their own view on how and why such a thing could happen.

“But my own feeling, and people inside Hearts know this, is I feel the club has been mismanaged for some time now.

“I remember three years ago someone went down to Liverpool to see how they did things.

“When they came back they revealed Hearts had more players on their books than Liverpool did.

“That was a huge warning sign for me right there.

“But nothing was done, and since then people have gone on and allowed this to happen.

“I was concerned when the finance director Stewart Fraser left Tynecastle three years ago.

“Campbell Ogilvie followed him out of the door not long after.

“These people have a far better knowledge of the Scottish football business than myself. So those were worrying developments for me. And I’m still worried now.

“Hearts claim they can self-sustain now without any support from Lithuania.

“But it is only a few months since they had to ask fans to hand over money to keep it in business.

“The supporters are the ones I most feel sorry for.

“They rallied round when they were begged for help and dug deep to keep them going. I have no doubt they would do so again.

“Some 6,000 have already bought season tickets for next season.

“And now they don’t even know which league Hearts will be in.”

When Locke grew up a Hearts fan the club was no stranger to First Division football.

The Jambos were relegated from the Premier League in 1977, 1979 and 1981.

But with Mackay, John Robertson and Walter Kidd in the side they were promoted again in 1983.

Hearts have gone on to remain a top-flight outfit for the past three decades. And Mackay admits it would be a massive culture shock for the fans and players if they were to drop down now.

He said: “When I was growing up in the 1970s Hearts was a yo-yo club. We would be promoted to the Premier League and then come back down again. But there was a distinct change when Alex MacDonald and Sandy Jardine came into Tynecastle. They instilled a sense of professionalism to the side that I don’t think had always been there.

“I think we helped the supporters develop some pride in the club. And we went on to become a good Premier League team.

“This is different. Hearts have become an established club in the SPL. So going down to the First Division would have a huge effect.

“Would it allow some of the good young players there just now to develop? Possibly. But the demands on them would possibly be more intense than they would in the SPL.

“Hearts would suddenly be expected to win a lot more games than they have done this season.

“They would be seen as the top dogs and that brings its own pressure with it.

“When we were promoted we did not even win the league, we finished runners-up.

“So it would not necessarily be any easier for them if they were to go down there. You would also expect people to lose their jobs there if Hearts were to be relegated.

“There have already been a number of changes to the playing side and that would continue.

“But there would have to be an overhaul off the park as well, which would not be nice.

“Even if Hearts were to stay up they could still be hit with a point penalty for NEXT season.

“So it is a worrying time for everyone connected with Herats, the players, staff and fans.”