We’ve got off-field and on-field issues.. I yearn for a normal week when nothing happens and we get a win at the end of it
CRAIG LEVEIN reckons Hearts are “vulnerable” to attack after another far from routine week on and off the pitch.
But he insists keeping calm heads inside the Tynecastle dressing room is crucial if they are to avoid more problems.
Serious safety objections raised by Police Scotland following the opening of a £12million stand led to a meeting with cops and Edinburgh city council 48 hours before Motherwell’s visit today.
Levein found himself in the stand during last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Hamilton after refusing to walk five yards towards ref Bobby Madden for a lecture after he complained about a decision.
His assistant Austin MacPhee joined him after grappling for the ball with Darian Mackinnon as the pair ended up on the deck.
But the Jambos boss is adamant players and management must keep their composure as they look to end a six-game winless run.
Levein, who has run the rule over Inverness winger Jake Mulraney, said: “The club is going through a difficult period just now. We have off-field issues, we have on-field issues and we are vulnerable to people poking us with a stick.
“The important thing is we will resolve all of these things hopefully in a pretty short space of time. I’d like to think by the summer we’ll look a lot different to where we are just now.
“These are small things. The point I am trying to make is if everything was going brilliantly at the club people wouldn’t even be talking about it. It’s because we have had some difficulties these things get highlighted.
“The stuff about the stand, when I read the statement I thought there had obviously been a meeting and there is nothing to worry about.
“We’re not happy with the way things are, that’s not a secret. But the moment you think the world is against you, nothing is going right and you start talking and thinking that way then it becomes a bigger problem.
“The important thing is just to be calm – like I was last week!
“Going back three years when we were nearly out of existence, if you look what has happened we’ve built a £12million stand together, we’ve got back into the Premiership, we’ve quadrupled the investment in the academy.
“We’re in a really good spot. But right now there are little things causing us a bit of grief.”
Asked if his side had adopted a siege mentality, he added: “Yeah and the players have been like that anyway. We were down to 10 men last week for an hour after Jamie Brandon was sent off against a team who beat Rangers at Ibrox a fortnight previously. We have resilience about us.”
Having to play at Murrayfield on top of Ian Cathro’s sacking four days before the season started added to a rollercoaster campaign.
And Levein said: “If it had been a young manager I’m telling you they would have been demented by now.
“There has been a lot going on and I just yearn for a normal week when nothing happens and we win at the end of the week. That would be nice.” Levein and MacPhee will be free to stand on the touchline today despite being warned over their future conduct.
The Gorgie boss said: “I didn’t feel I’d done anything untoward and felt even more sorry for Austin who did even less. That was the realisation once you look at it.
“I didn’t know why I was getting sent to the stand. I had a chat earlier in the week and everything is good.
“I maybe lost my calmness a bit last week but that was an accumulation of things that happened in the match. “It’s not the first time I’ve been in trouble with the SFA and I doubt it will be the last.” Levein was still in the dugout to see Jamie Walker net a stunning free-kick. And defender Michael Smith reckons his team-mate could easily play for one of the top sides up here or in the Championship down south. He said: “It’s only a matter of time before he gets a great move and fair play to him, he deserves it.” repaid with 14 goals, a cup final and fifth place in the league table.
“What happens in January we can’t control. We have an eye on other things and have to make sure we’re ready for that.”
Robinson takes his side to Hearts today and claims they can seal a Euro spot for next season.
He said: “Why not? There isn’t much between the teams. We’ve beaten Rangers and Aberdeen and drawn with Celtic. On our day, we can compete with any team.”
Meanwhile, Fir Park defender Charles Dunne is striving to go through an appearance barrier to trigger a one-year extension on his deal.
The 24-year-old Englishman said: “I signed for one year but another kicks in when I’ve played a specific amount of games so that’s the target.
“I only have a few games to go before I hit that target.”