Defiant Lee insists move to Premiership is ‘big step up’

Olly Lee has jumped to the defence of Scottish football after jilted Luton Town fans and pundits down south questioned his decision to join Hearts.

Heated social media debate was sparked last month after it emerged that the 26-year-old midfielder had snubbed the chance to stay with the newlypromoted League One side in order to move to the Scottish Premiership.

Several Luton fans tweeted their bewilderment at Lee’s decision, while Talksport radio’s Ian “Moose” Abrahams tweeted Lee’s father Rob, the former England midfielder, to question his son’s decision, saying “interesting Olly has gone to Hearts? You know L1 is more competitive than SPL.” Lee senior hit back and ex-celtic striker Chris Sutton joined the discussion to defend Scottish football.

Hearts’ new recruit, who sealed his move to Tynecastle on a three-year contract after attending the last Edinburgh derby of last season, was unfazed by the furore and insists he has made a “big step up” in switching from England’s third tier to Scotland’s top flight.

Speaking at the opening of Hearts’ new club store behind the main stand on Mcleod Street, Lee said: “People are very naive to Scottish football. Without being disrespectful, it’s a lot bigger here than what I’ve come from. That’s what I wanted, I felt I was ready for a step up, and in my opinion this is a big step up and one I’ve been ready for for a couple of years.

“Fans are always going to protect their clubs and I won’t

0 Midfield signing Olly Lee at the opening of Hearts’ new club store at Tynecastle yesterday. speak badly of Luton, because they were brilliant for me and I had a great time there. But, in my opinion, Hearts is a step up and I’m delighted to be here.

“It’s 20,000 people at Hearts every other week, you’re playing in huge games that really matter to a massive city, in Edinburgh, so it was a no-brainer for me.

“Every time I’ve been up here and spoken to the manager, I’ve been impressed and when I came to the Edinburgh derby at the end of the season, I was blown away. The passion of the fans was something I’ve not experienced, and I was just dying to be on the pitch with the lads that night. When you see the turnout today, to see the new kits and the new store, it’s something I want to be a part of.

“I had quite a few options down south but once I had met

OLLY LEE the manager and seen round the club there was nothing that could sway my decision.”

Lee explained that his father – an England internationalist in the mid-1990s who also played for Charlton Athletic, Newcastle, Derby and West Ham – backed his decision to join Hearts.

“My old man was pushing me towards it as well, because he just thought it was such a big place to play, in big games and games that really matter to people,” he said. “It always helps I’ve got someone I can turn to and someone I can ask for advice. He’s been there and done it, so it’s a big advantage for me, because any worries I have or any queries, I can always go and ask his opinion on it.

“It’s a nice person to have behind me. He could play a bit as well, he was all right! He likes to remind me of that as well! If I can be half as good as him then I’ll be all right.

“When I was younger I used to feel a little bit extra pressure, because everyone expects a lot of you. But, since then, I’m my own man. I’m Olly Lee, I’m not Rob Lee’s son. I want to get away from that. I’m immensely proud of him, but I’m Olly Lee and I’m here to show the Hearts fans what I can do – and it’s nothing to do with my dad.” Ex-morton manager Jim Mcinally was devastated to learn that the club’s former chairman Douglas Rae OBE passed away on Saturday aged 81, as Mcinally reckoned he was the Mr Indestructible of Scottish football.

Owner of a successful local confectionary business, Rae, pictured, had served on the Morton board for years before leaving in 1997, then stepped in four years later to prevent the Greenock men being put into administration.

He held the role of chairman for 17 years and only stepped down and handed the reigns to his son, Crawford, at the end of last season due to failing health.

Mcinally was appointed as Morton boss in 2004 and remained close to Rae after his departure in 2008. He said: “I thought Douglas was invincible. He had been at the club for so long that I never imagined Morton any other way. Jim Duffy told me at the end of the season that Douglas was beginning to fail but I thought he would be around for years yet as he was indestructible.”

Peterhead manager Mcinally added: “He was a wonderful man and a terrific chairman who always knew the right thing to say. When we played well he would find something for us to work on and when we played poorly he was there to support.”

Mcinally was last night determined to lay to rest a rumour that had become attached to his time at Cappielow, saying: “It was often said that Douglas interfered with the team and was an influence in the dressing room. Neither story is true.

“He was a supporter first and foremost who liked being in and around players and we treated him like a squad member. Every Friday I would ask him to name his team for the game the next day and he would go through it.

“I would then tell him what the team would be. There were great debates with a great chairman but he never picked the team!”

“People are very naive to Scottish football. It’s a lot bigger here than what I’ve come from. I felt I was ready”