After the biggest turmoil since the UKIO fiasco, Hearts are through the worst of what has been a nightmare few months. Slowly and surely the sun is coming to shine on Gorgie again, as despite wounds remaining fresh, the club now have to accept the questionable hand that the SPFL have dealt them. There is a bitter taste that will linger for months if not years at Tynecastle as to their treatment; however, they would do well to channel it positively this season.
The club begin their season on Tuesday the 6th of October. By that point, it will have been over six months since they last kicked a ball in a competitive match. The less said about that game, the better. There is no doubt that the moronic handling of the COVID crisis by the SPFL led to far less criticism of Ann Budge and the Hearts hierarchy than would have been dished out during a ‘normal’ campaign.
The club were bottom of the table by mid-March and offered absolutely nothing bar a couple of ‘big game’ results in the league. Despite this, fans were encouraged that the tide was turning under Daniel Stendel. However, results were ultimately underwhelming. Budge’s lack of footballing nous became woefully apparent in the 2019/20 season and the loyal fans have paid the price. The club were back where they started during the ‘5-year plan’ – back in the Championship.
Considering the fanbase, stadium, training facilities and 140-150k a month being shelled in by the Foundation of Hearts every month, it is inconceivable that the 3rd biggest club in Scottish football is languishing in the second tier. Fans of other clubs have rightly lapped this up, the schadenfreude of Scottish football is strong where Hearts are concerned. The Hearts fans have rallied as they always do, selling just short of 12,000 season tickets despite having no guarantee they’ll get to see most, if any games this season at Tynecastle.
To get over this sense of injustice, the club’s motive in the upcoming season is to get quickly back to where it belongs. They need to go full steam ahead and guarantee they are at the top of the table from the very beginning of the Championship. This is a season like no other. It is highly likely that the SPFL will continue to press and harass their member clubs to ensure they are given the powers to call the season when they feel the need.
If the likes of Roy Macgregor and Tony Fitzpatrick get even the slightest inkling that they could remain in the Premiership via a ‘no relegation this season due to curtailment’ then they will happily roll over and get their bellies tickled by the SPFL board.
Hearts need to ensure they are at the top of the pile when the inevitable difficult questions get answered. From a sunny side up viewpoint, hopefully, this won’t be an issue and the season will be fulfilled. However, dark clouds loom on the horizon. This possible curtailment is on top of the current confusion of how lower league teams will avoid getting a positive COVID test regularly during the season. The SFA are handling it in a typically baffling and bumbling fashion before the season has even begun. Both the SPFL and SFA have sacrificed clubs out with the top league to the open ocean whilst the Premiership boat sails off into unchartered waters.
Robbie Neilson’s return and the trimming of a bloated squad has led to renewed optimism that the club will succeed ahead of a potentially stormy season. Pace has been added in abundance, a goalkeeper will steady the defence, whilst more signings should arrive before the October start. Rivals Dundee, Dunfermline and Inverness should not really have enough for Hearts, but the club must approach these games with serious intent to dominate the league.
A 27-game season means that slip ups could be very costly, so Neilson needs to get the players ready for the challenge. With clubs having already completed three pre-season games – two against English Premier League opposition – the signs of serious preparation are already there. The other Championship clubs are yet to begin their pre-season matches.
Off the field, the club need a fresh look in several ways and are going about it the right manner, firstly appointing Andrew McKinley as CEO. This will enable Budge to concentrate on less day to day football matters, and instead on the long-term strategy of the club. She has already stated to the Scotsman that “We had opened one or two other initiatives in terms of increasing our brand awareness outside the UK, trying to build partnerships specifically in North America.”
Along with the completion of the main stand for yet more hospitality income, this all sounds positive and exciting. If Budge can build for the long term in the background whilst the footballing side brings quick success short term, then she can leave with her head held high.
If the season has any chance of playing out, all clubs need to stick to the rules put in place by the Scottish Government. If they do so and give the Government and subsequently the SPFL no reason to shut football down, then Hearts can concentrate on finishing top of the Championship and will be able to put a difficult period behind them.
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