Return to Tynecastle for wing ace Nicholson
forward to since arriving back in the UK. I have had chats with the manager and I know the direction of the club moving forward.
“For any player that’s very exciting and once I heard what he had to say, my mind was made up. Playing in
BILLY BROWN believes the scales of injustice will tip Hearts towards a stunning Scottish Cup victory.
And he reckons the SFA were right to get last season’s tournament played to a finish, even though his old club will be rusty when it finally goes ahead.
Hearts and Hibs are set to go head to head on either October 31 or November 1 for the right to play Celtic or Aberdeen in the Final.
If the Jambos fail to have their relegation overturned by an arbitration tribunal this week, they’ll kick off their Championship campaign less than two weeks before the last-four encounter with their city rivals.
By contrast Hibs should be right back in the swing of things with nearly three months of competitive action in their legs by the time the big one rolls around.
But knowing the fixture as he does, Brown is adamant Robbie Neilson’s men will be fired up and ready regardless.
He said: “Bringing that finality to the Scottish Cup is a good idea. I’m all for it.
“There’s no way round it if you’re going to play it. It’s not in Hearts’ favour but of course arbitration isn’t done and dusted so you never know what could happen there.
“Hibs will have been playing competitive games for a good month or two before Hearts so that may well hand them the advantage fitness-wise. But these games tend to turn out differently and don’t always go to form.
“Regardless of what league they’re in, an Edinburgh derby is an Edinburgh derby. Hearts actually did well in the derbies last season. Whether they’re in the Championship or not, in terms of injustice Hearts will have that sense of it with them for a long time.
“For me it’s just not right what’s happened there. You shouldn’t relegate a team like that and that could drive them on a wee bit more.
“Derbies take care of themselves and whatever happens Hearts will be fired up. Hearts won the last two at Easter Road and I don’t see their team being any weaker than that. “Hibs have strengthened but I don’t think there’s very much between them. Having said that, over last season Hearts were undoubtedly really poor – until they played Hibs! So that might happen again here.” The Scottish government will have the final say on whether there’s 52,000, a handful or no fans at the National Stadium to see it. But Brown added: “Whatever amount of supporters they get in will be the same for both clubs. If it’s only 2000 supporters
England is something I’ve always wanted to do and I’m looking forward to settling in with the squad and getting used to the league.”
Garner admitted he had to put the graft in to secure Nicholson’s signature.
“We are delighted to sign
BY ROSS PILCHER each then so be it. It’s a pity but that’s life at the minute.”
Whoever reaches the Final and regardless of whether they lift the famous old trophy or not, there won’t be the extra reward of European football, with the Scottish Cup slot already awarded to fourth-placed Aberdeen
“Hibs have the makings of a decent team but it’s a hard one to judge with the extra incentives and I hope the best team wins.
“But my biggest hope is they reverse the decision to relegate Hearts, although I doubt that very much.”
Brown’s long-time dugout partner Jim Jefferies will be on hand for gaffer Neilson to lean on should he wish, having been appointed in an advisory role.
And Brown added: “I’d hate to think how many derbies Jim has been involved with. He was 15 years as a player there and two spells as a manager.
“Robbie’s an experienced manager but if he does want some advice Jim’s the right man to go to, especially with his pedigree in the derbies. I say pedigree but the big one he played in and the one Hearts fans don’t want to remember is the 7-0 one, so I hope that will never happen again!”
There’s not a duo in Scottish football who know each other better than Brown and Jefferies, so it was therefore no shock to Brown to see his old mate return to his beloved Jambos last week.
He said. “It’s a great move by Hearts. They certainly needed someone that could bring the whole club together along with the supporters and they’ve got the right man to do that. I was in Jim’s class at school and he was Hearts-daft then and has been Hearts-daft ever since!
“We were partners for 25 years. His shrewdness and business acumen, along with his ability to make tough decisions, mean they’ve knocked it off.
“The one thing they’ll get with Jim is value for money. When Jim and I signed players we did our homework on them all the time and that’s what’ll happen now.
“There were far too many players signed and far too many poor players signed. But Jim will sort that out.
“He won’t have anything to do with the team – that’s Robbie’s job. But certainly in terms of requisition of players he’s the right man to do it.”
BILLY BROWN TALKS UP JAMBOS’ CUP CHANCES
Sam and very pleased we’ve managed to secure him for the season ahead,” he said.
“A lot of work has gone into the recruitment process and we believe he matches the type of player and character we want moving forward.
“He’s got a great mixture of experience, having played at the highest level in Scotland and also in America with the MLS.
“He’s a dynamic player who can play on either side of the pitch and is very versatile. Sam is a great dribbler who can create and score goals.”