Hearts youngster Dale Carrick: I couldn't believe it when I heard we were in administration.. especially as I got news from a Hibs man

Scott McDermott

25 Jun 2013 08:17

TYNECASTLE teenager Carrick received a message on his mobile phone telling him of the club's plight - from his girlfriend's dad, Hibs medic Duncan Reid.
Gary Locke with Kevin McHattie, Dale Carrick and Jamie Walker on the ticket drive Gary Locke with Kevin McHattie, Dale Carrick and Jamie Walker on the ticket drive
SNS/Craig Williamson

A TEXT pinged on Dale Carrick’s mobile phone from the HIBS doctor and it simply read: “You’re up for sale.”

At that point, the Hearts youngster didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

It was the moment he had dreaded – hearing the Tynecastle club had finally plunged into administration. The fact it came from a Hibee, his girlfriend’s dad and Easter Rod medic Duncan Reid, only made it worse.

Since then Carrick, like every other Jambos player, has been left to digest the news that their club is fighting for its existence.

A Hearts fan as a child, Carrick knows what it means to pull on a maroon jersey at Tynecastle.

That’s why, despite not earning a fortune, the 19-year-old would be willing to follow some of his team-mates in taking a pay cut.

And when – not if – Hearts come out of the financial mire, the forward wants to be a huge part of Gary Locke’s plans in what he hopes will be a new dawn in Gorgie.

Yesterday, Carrick reflected on a roller-coaster of emotions since receiving that text, which he thought was a sick joke at first.

He said: “It was devastating to find out the club was going into administration. I didn’t believe it at first but then I saw it on TV and knew it was true.

“I found out initially from my girlfriend’s dad who sent me a text. He just told me I was up for sale. I couldn’t believe it and had to check online and on TV.

“Duncan is the doctor at Hibs and a jokey guy at times. So I thought he might be telling me that for a bit of a laugh.

“He’s a big Hibs man and we have a bit of banter about it. I don’t know how much he thinks I’m worth but it’s probably not that much.

“It’s devastating to see Hearts in this situation. Most of my family are Jambos, even though we have a few Hibs fans as well.”

As a teenager who has come through the ranks, Carrick will be on a modest salary compared with some of the club’s top earners.

But, like pal Kevin McHattie, he has agreed to take a drop if it will help administrators save the Gorgie outfit.

Carrick will meet the money men on Thursday but is already watching what he’s spending in the wake of events at the club. He even confessed to putting less petrol in his car in a bid to save some cash.

The forward said: “In the last couple of weeks I’ve toned down my spending and haven’t bought some things I had planned to.

“I’ve definitely had to calm down on the petrol as that’s probably my biggest expense. But we’re back training on Thursday and I’ll need the car to travel in and out.

“It’s best for some of the players to take a pay cut. I’ll take one if it means fewer people will be made redundant. It has been so sad to see some people go.

“By the same token, it’s great to see the fans coming out in their numbers to support the club and buy season tickets. We need to keep going now and sell the 3000 the administrators have targeted.

“I haven’t spoken to them yet about my own situation but I hope to do that on Thursday.”

Carrick featured heavily for the Jambos towards the end of last season after playing in the Europa League against Liverpool.

He’s desperate to be a key figure for Locke in the future and still sees his long-term future in Gorgie.

The teenager said: “I want to stay at the club for as long as I possible. I’ve been here since I was 11 so I want to give something back.

“I’ve had a wee taste of first-team action but I might get more regular starts next season with most of the senior players leaving.

“It’s a great challenge to claw back the 15-point deduction we will have. It would make us into even bigger heroes in the eyes of the fans.

“The gaffer is a great supporter of Hearts, a real diehard, and drills that into us every day. He has told us everything we do here is for the club and the fans.”

Aside from possibly accepting a pay cut, Carrick has also joined forces with McHattie and keeper Jack Hamilton in auctioning off a lunch with the trio in Edinburgh to raise funds.

And he has assured any potential bidders he won’t be taking them to footballers’ favourite haunt Nando’s for a bite to eat.

Carrick said: “It’s being done through our agent, Gordon Reid, and we’re up to £300 so far.

“We’ll take them wherever they want to go but it won’t be Nando’s. Most players like it but I’m more of a Wagamama man.”

Taken from the Daily Record