We'll Watch With Interest

Andrew Dickson

CRAIG MATHER says he’ll watch with interest as Scottish football authorities act after Hearts went into administration recently.

The Tynecastle outfit was today issued with a notice of complaint by the SFA for ‘suffering an insolvency event’ last month.

It has until next Monday to respond to the governing body, with a principal hearing date set for Thursday, July 18.

Many Rangers fans and staff still feel aggrieved at the clamour to punish their own club after it experienced financial difficulties of its own last year.

The feeling among some is that certain penalties issued back then were too harsh after the Light Blues were voted out of the SPL and left to start again in the Third Division.

What happens to the Jambos remains to be seen as their future is still unclear but Ibrox chief executive Mather wants rational thinking rather than impulsive reactions.

The Lancastrian maintains whatever happens must be measured and considered a little more than 12 months after Gers’ own situation was dealt with.

Mather told RangersTV: “The situation at Hearts, putting everything else to one side for a minute, affects people’s livelihoods. From that perspective, I do have sympathy for all of them there.

“I just hope common sense prevails and people aren’t as quick to judge and make rash decisions like they did with us then have to pick up the pieces afterwards.

“It is important time is taken to make the right decisions. I’m not privy to all the information but they need to make an educated decision to avoid the fall-out there was with Rangers.

“That can’t happen again to Scottish football. I will be watching with interest to make sure it is a black and white decision and that it’s fair.

“All points need to be taken into consideration and we have to make sure the decisions made are right.”