I knew their spending was out of control ..but that just made it even better when we beat them

KENNY MILLAR


JOHN COLLINS last night insisted it was always just a matter of time before Hearts’ reckless spending caught up with them.

The turmoil at Tynecastle plunged to new depths this week, with administration resulting in 14 loyal members of staff being shown the door.

First-team players have been asked to take sizeable pay cuts under the threat that failure to accept reduced terms will see a whole host of their team-mates cut loose as drastic cost-cutting bites.

And supporters have been told, in no uncertain terms, that they have two weeks to buy 3,000 season tickets or a dreaded doomsday scenario will unfold.

It’s a far cry from Collins’ time as Hibs boss — from October 2006 to December 2007 — when Vladimir Romanov’s extravagance was at its worst.

The Jambos were able to call on expensively-acquired players like Marius Zaliukas, Jose Goncalves, Julien Brellier, Roman Bednar and Saulius Mikoliunas.

Despite having to operate with a tiny budget in comparison, Collins still steered Hibs to two derby wins — the first on the way to their 2007 League Cup triumph.

But he admits the decks were stacked in favour of their city rivals.

He said: “Everyone knew at the time that the wages we were paying and the wages they were paying were miles apart.

“I said at the time that it would only be a matter of time before it all came back to haunt them.

“You can only bring in so much money with a 14,000 crowd and from the television money but what they were paying on salaries was unsustainable. It has caught up with them.

“I feel for the players and the supporters because this is going to be a tough period for them now.

“At the time I just got on with it. It made it even better when we beat them.”

While the Hearts faithful again rally admirably to dig their club out of a hole, there’s a lack of sympathy from those outwith Gorgie.

There’s a feeling throughout large sections of Scottish football that they have to take their medicine after enjoying the benefits of thoughtless spending with two Scottish Cup successes.

Collins added: “Was it worth it given the Cup success?

“I think if you ask the Hearts fans then nine out of ten will say ‘Aye, we’ve won two Cups and had all those happy days with all those players we couldn’t afford’.

“Fans don’t really care about the budgets and balancing books. They never do.

“They want the best players on the pitch and the team winning week in, week out.

“But if every club did it then there would be no teams left in Scotland — they would all be bankrupt. It’s a shame for Hearts.”

Despite his long association with Hibs, Sky Sports pundit Collins has no wish to see Hearts fold.

He said: “For Scottish football it would be a nightmare.

“Rangers have gone, which is a nightmare for the SPL and Hearts are another team with an excellent support that would be missed by the other clubs.

“The other clubs would feel it big time without the Hearts fans visiting their stadiums.” The one silver lining will be more top-team chances for Hearts’ younger players, who will have to step up to the plate due to the extended registration ban ruling out the prospect of even low-budget squad reinforcements.

Collins, recently appointed by the SFA in a roving youth coaching capacity, said: “For every negative there is a positive if you look for it.

“The positive at the end of the year was that a lot of young players at Hearts were getting first-team jerseys.

“That was great for the players but, of course, they have to take that opportunity and be good enough to sustain a place in the team, to sustain Hearts in a place in the league that the fans accept and think is normal.

“But I always like seeing young players from the academy getting an opportunity.

“It’s the healthy way for small to medium-sized clubs to go about their business — from within, not spending money bringing overseas players in.”

The Foundation of Hearts are on a pledge drive to urge fans to back a supporter-led buy-out of the cash-strapped club.

Collins says the model has its pros and cons, and added: “As long as the fans’ groups are smart and know how to run a business, and as long as they don’t try to interfere with and run the football side of things — which is always a danger when they come on board — then fine.

“Things have got to change. Hearts have obviously been run into the ground by Romanov, spending money they never had.

“Hopefully if fans do take over then it will be run on a sound business model, and fairly.”

Collins enjoyed a successful two-year stint with Monaco during his playing days.

While most Scots prospects are content to make the short journey south of the border in search of fame and fortune, Dundee United left-back Barry Douglas bucked the trend with a move to Poland’s Lech Poznan.

Collins said: “I think that most people were surprised by that one.

“It’s an opportunity for him, a challenge.

“There is a language barrier to start with but the football will always take care of itself.

“If he wants to make a success of it he’ll learn the language.

“If he wants to integrate into the dressing room, talk and laugh, then that’s important.”

John Collins was speaking at the West Regional final of the Bank of Scotland Midnight League which benefits communities across Scotland and has been up and running for ten years.