Aberdeen 1 Hearts 1: Jambos battle for point at Pittodrie as they head into uncertain summer
20 May 2013 10:45

Scott McDermott

HEARTS future remains unclear but the loyal backing of their support at Pittodrie proved even relegation won't break this club.

THE Lithuanian flag was still draped over the bottom of the South Stand at Pittodrie.

An act of defiance Mad Vlad himself would have been proud of. Hearts’ fans are loyal, you have to give them that.

But as their club teeter on the brink of possible relegation to the First Division you have to say their faith is becoming increasingly blind.

Since arriving in Edinburgh almost a decade ago, Vladimir Romanov has delivered two Scottish Cups at Tynecastle. Not the European trophy he promised.

Forget some of the sexy signings and sporadic tirades against Scottish football’s hierarchy. Of course, the Gorgie punters loved all that. But nine years on and saddled with a £25million debt, they now have to ask themselves, ‘Was it worth it’?

And, more importantly, could relegation from the top flight for the first time in 32 years be a good thing for the Jambos?

This season, the players they adore weren’t even getting paid. Unavoidable cutbacks have left Gary Locke with a team full of youngsters who are scratching around in the SPL’s bottom six.

On Thursday, Heart’s parent company UBIG – who own 79 per cent of them – asked to be declared insolvent. A Lithuanian court now has 30 days to grant that wish and cast a huge cloud of uncertainty over one of Scotland’s most decorated football clubs.

Today the SPL board will meet at Hampden to discuss whether UBIG’s demise breaches league rules. If they decide it does, Hearts may face an 18-point penalty and automatic relegation.

Even if their breach is deemed to be part of next season’s campaign they’d start in the SPL with a 15-point loss.

Hearts fans hope it won’t come to that. They believe that because they’re now running as a sustainable business without Romanov’s input and are a separate entity to UBIG everything will be fine.

And therein lies the problem. At times during the last year of Tynecastle turmoil you’ve half expected Comical Ali to turn up and say, “Nothing to see here”.

The fans deserve enormous credit for rallying round earlier this year and raising £1.5m through a share issue. But when will they accept that Romanov’s reign at the club has done them more harm than good?

And if they take a deep breath and actually think about it, dropping down a division might not be as catastrophic as they imagine.

It would give them a chance to build something again with solid foundations.

Hearts, like so many other Scottish clubs in the last two decades, have spent money they – or UBIG – couldn’t afford. Living beyond their means. Elsewhere harsh lessons have been learned for similar behaviour. Rangers are the prime example. They’ve had to learn the hard way.

Motherwell were the same when they were plunged into administration. Dundee have been there twice as well.

Ally McCoist has spoken about a “cleansing process” at Ibrox. But, in truth, the whole of Scottish football needs to be flushed out – and Hearts should undoubtedly be part of that process. For too long now their fans have tried to blank out all the negative aspects of Romanov’s time. But by today the harsh reality of their predicament may finally hit home.

At least one of their players understands the seriousness of the situation. After Saturday’s draw against Aberdeen, keeper Jamie MacDonald addressed it and expressed fears for the future. Quite rightly he warned the rest of our game it needs a strong Hearts. He was also right to say they aren’t the only Scottish club blowing money they don’t have.

After a brilliant performance against the Dons, MacDonald said: “There have been many things happening at this club over the last few years and, while I wouldn’t say you become immune to it, you learn to concentrate on the football and be as professional as you can be.

“We aren’t the only club in financial trouble but obviously there have been a few times previously when the boys haven’t been paid.

“Thankfully we’ve managed to turn it around and we’re self-sufficient now. The wages and bonuses are up to date. But we can’t influence what’s going to happen at Hampden. Whether it’s good or bad news, we have to deal with it. It would be difficult for other clubs if we were relegated. You just need to see the support we took to Pittodrie with us.

“There are not many other SPL clubs could take that kind of support to away games.

“So a negative decision won’t just affect us. It will affect everybody and Rangers dropping out of the league has already had a major impact. It will be more of the same if Hearts aren’t there.”

As far as this season goes, it is the end of the road at Tynecastle for skipper Marius Zaliukas who was given a late run-out as a substitute in order to say his farewell to the Hearts supporters.

And Locke will undoubtedly be glad to see the back of what has been a difficult campaign. On Saturday they relied on MacDonald to keep them in the game. The keeper produced top-drawer saves to defy Niall McGinn and Josh Magennis in the first half – and followed it up with another wonder stop to thwart Dons kid Cammy Smith.

But Locke’s side are nothing if not resilient. And when Ryan Stevenson’s header flashed past Jamie Langfield it looked like they’d steal the three points.

But credit to McInnes’s side. They refused to give up and when Jamie Hamill diverted a Jonny Hayes cross into his own net, they got the draw they richly deserved.

On the day Aberdeen’s youngsters looked more ready for the SPL next season than Hearts’ talented kids. But Locke’s young guns may not even get the chance to prove themselves – if the league’s board come down hard on them today.