BUDGE IS TO BLAME FOR HEARTS RUNNING OUT OF TIME

THERE is now a considerable body of evidence to suggest that Hearts will suffer relegation to the Championship this season. Arguments to the contrary are becoming increasingly difficult to justify. Quite simply, they are based not on reality, but on history and reputation. They are detached from the cold, hard facts which Daniel Stendel, Ann Budge and everyone else at Tynecastle must surely acknowledge. That’s now just one win from Stendel’s first 11 games in charge. In terms of a new-manager bounce, it’s been non-existent. In fairness, coming back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Hamilton on Saturday, at least they seem determined to go down in a blaze of glory. But the writing has been on the wall long before Stendel set foot in the building in December. It can only be viewed as a failure on Budge’s part not to recognise it. The warning signs and alarm bells were there. It was see no evil, hear no evil as far as the Hearts chief was concerned, though. Her failure to relieve Craig Levein of his duties now looks like it could have damning consequences. Budge told the club’s shareholders in December that it had been a mistake to support Levein for as long as she did. She explained that she really ought to have been seeking a new manager in the summer. Yet she waited until Levein had won just one of the opening 11 league games this season to get rid of him. That was on Hallowe’en — but she then embarked on a long, drawn-out pursuit of Stendel, who wasn’t appointed until well over a month down the line. Make no mistake, Hearts are staring into the abyss. Stendel’s blunt admission on Saturday that time is running out serves as a damning indictment on Budge. She has allowed Hearts to sleepwalk their way into this mess.