Blow in the wind for Hearts stand
● New setback for Tynecastle re- opening ● Decision next week but Budge is bullish
Hearts have not ruled out postponing their return to Tyne - castle,stating that a judgement call will be made by the middle of next week.
Manager Craig Levein had revealed that there is a Plan B in place if the work on the new main stand is not completed in time for them to play host to Kilmarnock on 5 November and, speaking to The Scotsman, club chairwoman Ann Budge confirmed that things are on “a knife edge”. She admitted that the back-up proposal may need to be initiated after the recent winds set back the tight works schedule, curtailing roofing works.
“I have had daily meetings with the contractors and we are absolutely still shooting for the fifth but there have been delays. Last weekend we had roofers scheduled to do various things but because of the high winds that didn’t happen. So, it is almost a case of assessing things one day at a time.”
The situation will bed is- cussed in depth at today’ s board meetingbut there is a chance that the team may have to play the Killie game at BT Murrayfield, postponing their return to Tynecastle until 18 November, when Par tick Thistle would be the guests.
The completion date has already been put back once before, following an error in ordering the seats, and that forced the club to stage three “home” games at Murrayfield, including tomorrow’ s clash with St Johnstone and next weekend’s head- to- head with Rangers. But Budge said that the initial agreement was, provisionally, for four matches, to give the club some lee - way should it be needed.
“It’s not that I think the work won’t bed one, I’m pretty confident it will be. We are still pushing for the fifth and everyone assures me we will make it,” said the majority shareholder, claiming that the onsite staff are still “working at 100 mph ”, withlots of shifts scheduled over the weekend to try to catch up. But with more weather warnings for the next few days, Budge has acknowledged that may not be enough. “Will that affect any thing? I just don’t know. If it doesn’t, then everything should be fine. We will take stock next week.”
If Hearts do decide to play the Killie game at Murrayfield, because of the international break they will have another two weeks to get things right.
“As it stands we know that a lot of the work will concertina in the last few days and because we are changing to unmanned turnstiles all the software still has tobe tested rigorously. The last thing I want is 20,000 supporters unable to get into the stadium in good time. When we do come back into the stadium, I want it to be a success and a really enjoyable experience.”
It is understood that testing is due to start on Tuesday and could be a determining factor.
Budge added :“To be fair, I have to let everyone involved know as soon as I can. So, early to middle of next week, I will make a definitive deci - sion. We all want to get back to Tynecastle on the fifth and we are working hard to make that happen but the last thing I want is to rush it and something goes wrong on the day.”
ANN BUDGE “I have daily meetings and we are still shooting for the fifth but there have been delays.”
“Okay, there were a couple of really good managers in there before him and they maybe built the foundations but he’s put up a six- bedroom house rather than a cottage.”
CRAIG LEVEIN
Hearts manager Craig Levein has paid tribute to his ‘ fantastic’ St Johnstone counterpart Tommy Wright for working marvels with the Perth club, insisting that while others laid the groundwork, he has built on that in impressive style.
As the teams prepare to meet at Murrayfield tomorrow, with the capital club looking for their first win in nine games, Le vein spoke highly of the man many had touted for the Tynecastle post in the wake of Ian Cathro’s departure.
“He is fantastic. St Johnstone, for me, are like Dunfermline, Falkirk, Raith Rovers. Those other clubs are languishing in lower league sand I put that down to Tommy. The crowds at St Johnstone are on a par with the other teams I mentioned but the fact that he is at St Johnstone means they have been in the top six year on year on year and in Europe year on year.
“Okay, there were a couple of really good managers in there before him, admittedly, and they maybe built the foundations. But he’s certainly put up a six- bedroom house rather than a cottage!”
Since taking over at Mcdiarmid Park in 2013 the Northern Irishman has steered the Saints to their first ever major trophy win, enjoying glory in the Scottish Cup, and, after a sixth place finish in his debut season, he has delivered three successive top four finishes and guided them into Europe.
“I think he’s done a remarkable job. The danger is expectations, he’s done so many good things in a period of time and it’s really difficult to keep that going.
“If I was to give advice to any young manager, whatever league you’re in, it would be to finish ninth, next year finish eighth, then seventh, then sixth and that might keep you ina job ,” he suggested, saying that may prevent fans and employers expecting miracles season after season. “Just don’t finish third and third and third because at some point…
“When I speak about this, my mind always goes back to Alan Curbishley at Charlton. He took them through the leagues and into the Premier League, then finished in the top half but they got rid of him because they needed somebody to take them to the next level, which turned out to be two divisions below the one they were in!
“When you get up there [ with one of the so-called underdogs] you are constantly fighting against the odds and the longer you stay up there, people take it for granted. That’s something that’s grossly unfair. There are some managers who have done remarkable jobs at clubs but the expectation level that is set is not always realistic. Tommy has outdone anybody with regard to havinghis team playing above a level that possibly the budget would dictate.”
Nine games into the league season,a fourth winof the campaign for Hearts would catapult them up the standings, allowing them to leapfrog not only St Johnstone but also rivals Hibs, who they face at Easter Road in the first Edinburgh derby of the season on Tuesday. But Le vein knows that reward will have to be well-earned again state am with a reknowned work ethic.
“I don’t always associate St Johnstone picking up points with t hem necessarily playing well. One of the big things about them is their determination and their grit and their ability to win points when they are not at their best.”
Hearts showed a willingness to dig in and battle for their win away to Ross County last weekend but the manager knows anything less could cost them this weekend.
“Outside of Celtic and maybe Aberdeen, the rest of us aren’t in the luxurious position of knowing we are always going to play well and win. We will need to work as hard as we have done in any match up to now to get the points.
“I know that and I can impart that knowledge to the players and make sure that we don’t lose this match due to them being more diligent or working harder.”