SUMMIT’S UP AT JAMBOS
DON COWIE has admitted time is running out for Hearts after a clear-the-air summit followed their “unacceptable” exit from the Betfred Cup. The 34-year-old was involved in a frank debate within the home dressing room and laid bare the facts about the nightmare and unrest currently enveloping Tynecastle. Manager Ian Cathro was savaged by his own fans after the 2-2 draw with Dunfermline destroyed one of just two realistic chances of silverware for the club this season before the end of July. Punters leaned over barriers to hurl abuse at the boss as he stood in the technical area while others higher up the Wheatfield Stand chanted “Cathro, Cathro Get tae f***” just a few rows from where the board of directors including Ann Budge and Craig Levein sat watching in disappointment. Cathro looked haunted after the exit but his experienced midfielder insists there is simply nowhere to hide for the players and management right now. And Cowie warned they have to find the necessary backbone to cope with the stress because it’s not going away. He said: “We have not achieved what we wanted, so we had to speak up. “There’s no beating about the bush, it has not been good enough. “It’s a two-way thing. The manager says his bit, we say our bit because at the end of the day we all want to improve. “We have to say the things we need to say in order for that to happen. “There’s no hiding. It’s massive to go out. The reason a lot of us came here is because we want to challenge for trophies and get to the latter stages of the competitions. “The bottom line is it’s not acceptable to go out at this stage. It goes back to last Tuesday night and losing away at Peterhead.
“It meant we faced a massive game against Dunfermline and we weren’t good enough. That’s where you just have to grow up and accept that’s football.
“You are at a club where fans expect you to win games and if people want to further their careers then you just have to man up and get on with it.
“It’s only going to get worse the older you get with the places you play at. If you’re not willing to deal with it then I am sure they will get other players who are.
“We all know the time span of a manager these days is very short so it is only natural we want to get wins on the board.
“I feel for him because we wanted to get out of the group stage and we should have done that but the bottom line is we haven’t managed to.
“You don’t get time. There have been spells in the last four games where you can see we have added real quality to the squad but what we have not managed to do is do it on a consistent basis.
“That takes time but you don’t get time in football. If you are not ready as a player then the club will just get different players.” Cathro admitted his players failed to handle the heat as derision poured from the stands and the pressure cranked up as the Pars charged towards the knockout stage and the Jambos headed out. But Cowie said: “We said in the dressing room that, if you want to have a good career and take it to good places and have a good go at it, then it only gets worse. “The pressure gets higher, the demands get higher. So what better place to do it than here because it will stand you in good stead in your career. “The only good thing for us is that it wasn’t in the league, we haven’t kicked a ball in the league yet and it is up to us to get those fans back on our side.
“When they are it’s a difficult place to come. I know what it is like. Once the stand is finished it’s going to be a difficult arena and we need to give the fans the results they deserve.
“No matter what age you are you are always learning and trying to help. But at the same time, there is only so much you can do for other players.
“It’s not just about having experienced players. We have Arnaud Djoum who won an Africa Cup of Nations, Prince Buaben who has played in the Scottish Premier League for a number of years and we have Aaron Hughes to come back in. We have experience and we will do all we can to help.
“The fans have every right to be upset. To be out at this stage is unacceptable.
“But we’ve just got to regroup. It’s the start of the season and we have not kicked a ball in the league but what a chance it is for us to turn that on its head next week away to Celtic.
“In football you have a game around the corner to put it to bed. We’ve got to get on with it, we have four massive away matches which are not going to be easy, we know that.
“But that’s football and part of the pressure of being at such a high-profile club like Hearts.
“You just have to deal with it. The majority of us are not doing that and the sooner we do, the better.” Forrest is nothing but a passenger. A one-trick pony with an absolutely shocking final ball.”
emailed: “Could someone on the Celtic coaching staff please teach Forrest how to ‘put his laces’ through the ball? He keeps turning his foot to hit the ball with the inside or outside of his boot and it is frustrating to watch.”
The Hoops have taken flak for not signing more strikers but said: “I would rather see Celtic use the biscuit tin route. Would you prefer the EBT way or Romanov way and walk away leaving people jobless with others not getting paid? Celtic are doing the proper way well.”
Away from the pitch there were some nasty clashes between Hoops fans and locals down in Sunderland.
said: “Once again Celtic fans are showing why their club will never be allowed in the league down south. Police England for one wouldn’t allow it. The so-called fans are an embarrassment to their club and my country.”
emailed: “Only days after their 12th UEFA fine in the last six years, Celtic’s fans have once again shamed their club and country after being caught on camera brawling on the streets of Sunderland. If ever there was a complete misnomer, surely it’s the self-proclaimed ‘best fans in the world’”.
Finally, a few callers on the boos. John McAllister emailed: “How can Scotland be fined £4000 for booing God Save The Queen when it’s not the English national anthem? Officially it’s British. If England used the Birdie Song and it was booed would we be fined?”
said: “It’s nonsense for UEFA to fine the SFA. Can’t they see it was just banter?”
Come on Ian, this is Scottish football, it’s no place for banter.