Season preview: Can crisis-hit Hearts defy the odds to beat relegation?

Starting 15 points adrift with the smallest, weakest and youngest squad in the Premiership, Gary Locke has a mountain to climb this year.

While Hearts are overwhelming favourites to be relegated after going into administration in June, the fans are rallying behind the team and players are focused and motivated.

Could they do the seemingly impossible and jump out of 12th place before May?

How did they fare last term?

Hearts had their worst SPL campaign, labouring heavily under John McGlynn before he was sacked and replaced by first team coach Gary Locke. Hearts struggled for goals with John Sutton in and out of the team. When captain Marius Zaliukas was ruled out for the rest of the season, Hearts started conceding more as well.

Summer transfer business

Despite the transfer ban for entering administration, Hearts managed to smuggle through a permanent deal for Liverpool and Scotland defender Danny Wilson. The 21-year-old takes the captain’s armband in a young and inexperienced squad of just 21 players, three of whom are goalkeepers.

Heading the other way, experienced pros like Sutton, Marius Zaliukas, Andy Webster and Darren Barr have all departed.

Expectations

The club starts the season 15 points adrift due to their insolvency event and become automatic relegation favourites. Few expect Hearts to stay up, with 11th place and a play-off considered a best-case scenario.

How should they fare?

Much will come down to how Hearts start the season. The fans have rallied behind the club buying season tickets and the team on the pitch face a massive challenge to keep spirits up on the terraces. The backing from the stands could be crucial to whether Gary Locke can keep this unproven group up, but few will back them.

Key men

Danny Wilson will have to provide strong leadership from the back, with the three experienced heads – Jamie Hamill, Ryan Stevenson and Jamie MacDonald – all heavily relied upon when backs are against the wall. The return from injury of Callum Paterson is a boost as his pace and physicality will provide chances.

Jason Holt has been subject of repeated bids from Nottingham Forest and supporters will hope this is the breakthrough year for the talented playmaker.

Manager

Gary Locke’s first managerial appointment could barely have been more trying as he attempts to lead a pool of rookies from -15 points to safety. But the former Hearts captain can rely on plenty of goodwill from the stands due to his history with the club.

Locke has tinkered with a 4-5-1 formation in pre-season before appearing to plump for a 4-4-2 with winger Jamie Walker drifting from sideline to sideline. The midfielder fulcrum of Calum Tapping, Scott Robinson and Jason Holt will need to produce solid performances quickly if Hearts are to make a good start to the campaign.

Fan’s view

Andrew-Henry Bowie, author of Two Miles to Tynecastle and the Official Heart of Midlothian Quiz Book: "We will go into season 2013/14 facing the fight of our 140-year-old life, both on and off the pitch. Edinburgh’s oldest, biggest and most decorated club has been in administration since June 19th and faces liquidation, should Lithuanian administrators knock back the best CVA proposal the club can rally.

"On the pitch, Hearts will start the season as firm relegation favourites, our stripped back squad beginning the new campaign fifteen points adrift of our likely relegation rivals, St Mirren, Partick and Hibs.

"So is it all doom and gloom down Gorgie Road then? Not on your life.

"This might be the most challenging season in a decade-long sequence of controversy, calamity and Scottish Cup glory. Yet for everything that has been thrown at us Heart of Midlothian supporters, the club’s resolute, passionate and never-say-die fanbase continues to defy adversity, and will roar the team on into the season in front of near-capacity crowds in our famous bear-pit of a stadium.

"Hearts fans have rallied to the cause, snapping up nearly 11,000 season tickets, as well as club merchandise and monthly pledges to the Foundation of Hearts, the fans-led body which is closing in on securing this much-loved Edinburgh institution. The Jam Tarts supporters will be ready, but what of the team, and that threadbare squad?

"t’s going to take a special effort from Gary Locke’s men to survive relegation, but with such a passionate Hearts man and up-and-coming young coach in charge, Locke will give his all in order to extract the maximum and more out of his squad. The key players for me are the youngsters who will have to do all their remaining growing up on the pitch.

"Lads like Jamie Walker, Kevin McHattie, Brad McKay, Billy King and Jason Holt will need to bring their A-game to Tynecastle and beyond in the majority of matches if the team are to claw back those fifteen points. Needless to say, older heads such as Ryan Stevenson and Jamie Hamill will have an invaluable role to play too.

"Yet if every player has a weight to carry, then perhaps the fortunes of the season will rest even more heavy on the broad shoulders of 18-year-old Callum Paterson. The young striker/full back/right midfielder is the most exciting presence in the team when fit and on form. Should he be fully recovered from injury, he could be the difference to Hearts in attack, when the big push to claw back those fifteen points begins.

"Can Hearts do it? Yes, if they get off to a good start. Hearts might also be a decent outside bet for a cup too, because every league game is going to feel like a cup final. If Hearts can reel three points in against Hibs on August 11, watch the roof fly off Tynecastle."

Odds (without Celtic): 50/1