OUR GAME IS RIGHT ON THE BRINK
Naismith backs Budge over pay-cut criticism
HEARTS may have been the first to take action, but Steven Naismith knows it will soon spread. Indeed, he fears that the financial contagion of the coronavirus shutdown could threaten the very future of Scottish football unless unified action is taken.
Naismith announced on Sunday that he would accept the 50-per-cent wage cut sought by Tynecastle owner Ann Budge as the club faces up to the loss of £1million in revenue.
He readily admits that others may not find it so easy to meet Budge’s ultimatum. Even so, Naismith felt he had to do what he could.
Having spoken to Budge on several occasions, the Hearts captain believes criticism of her approach has been misguided. He insists saving jobs and preserving the club have been the only motivations behind a move that sent a shiver through fans who all too readily remember the headlong plunge into administration in 2013.
Budge may have been quick to take action, but Naismith struggles to see how others will not follow suit. He would argue only Celtic may have sufficient resources to remain relatively immune.
With no clear picture of when the pandemic will subside to allow football to resume, the 33-year-old feels the focus should be entirely on enabling clubs to survive the coming months. In football terms, nothing else matters.
‘Ann isn’t looking for sympathy but I think it’s been misconstrued why she’s just doing this,’ said Naismith. ‘Every club in Scotland outwith maybe Celtic will come into hard times here.
‘It’s inevitable it’ll happen. Ann is just trying to be proactive with that. People are saying she’s doing this or the club goes under. She’s not saying that. She’s trying, as an intelligent businesswoman, to minimise the risk of people losing their livelihoods.
‘Anyone can have their opinion on the management or the board at Hearts but, at this moment in time, it’s not about that. It’s about saving jobs.
‘People saying they’d tell her to stuff it? Well, okay, if that happens, numbers of people lose their jobs, the club struggles to survive depending on how long the situation goes on for. What good is that for anybody involved?
‘The people who love the club and love working for the club lose their jobs. Scottish football potentially loses a big club that brings great experiences for games in the league and plays at a fantastic stadium. There’s no winner there.
‘With everything regarding coronavirus — league finishes, what happens to the game — all that needs to be put to the side to an extent, outwith the people who need to come up with the solution, because it’s not about that.
‘It’s about getting through this pandemic with minimum damage to everyone’s day-to-day life.’
Scottish football is officially off until the end of April. However, no one expects a rapid resumption around that point.
SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell has already cast serious doubt on UEFA’s plan to stage the Euro 2020 play-offs in June. Privately, many inside the game think getting back to business in August or September would be a decent outcome.
Asked if he truly feared for Hearts given the likely length of the lay-off, Naismith replied: ‘I wouldn’t know because I don’t know the full financial side of the business.
‘I think, in general, over the whole of Scottish football, the delay in getting an answer in terms of how to get through this, what’s going to happen, what help is going to be there, is very tough for every club.
‘You talk about the football family and it’s so true. In my lifetime, there’s never been as big a crisis for Scottish football to deal with. All the side agendas need to be put aside to get through this, to keep the foundation of the league’s quality — which is why it’s the biggest sport in Scotland. That needs to come from everyone in football working together and appreciating we are all in this together.
‘The biggest thing is people’s health and wellbeing and then saving staff, players, clubs, everything, as much as possible. Give them a bit of relief under these extremely tough situations we’re in. You fear for the game in Scotland otherwise.’ Naismith’s stance on unity within Scottish football may seem somewhat at odds with Budge, who has already said she will take legal action if the season is ended early and Hearts are relegated. The Scotland striker will stay at Tynecastle even if they take the drop, but admits it would feel bitter doing so with eight matches still to play on the original schedule. ‘It would be sad and I don’t think it’s fair to do that,’ he added. ‘You’d be going into the tightest part of the season where you play all the teams around you and the games become six-pointers. ‘I don’t think there’s an easy answer. It goes back to the side issues with everyone to try to get the best decision. But it’s not an easy one to make.’ Inside Hearts, some of Naismith’s colleagues feel similar difficulties about deciding to meet Budge’s demands. Discussions with PFA Scotland are ongoing for advice about how to progress. There are those who feel blindsided by the speed of the move and lack of prior consultation. As captain, Naismith has set an example. But could a decision not have been reached collectively within the squad? ‘Everyone’s situation is totally different,’ he said. ‘I’ve been fortunate. I’ve had a good career and I’ve played in England where the financial side of the game is much more rewarding. I’m in a position I can do this. ‘There are so many implications to it and it’s very hard to get a unanimous decision with 30-odd players.
‘Other players might want to help but they might not be able to do it at that level.
‘I’ve given them the understanding it’s not something that’s going to happen overnight. It starts in April.
‘The players asked for a date to be put on it and it’s until the end of August, but Ann has said that, if the situation improves beforehand, it’ll be until that stage.’
Naismith has experience to call upon. He lived through administration at Rangers in 2012, when the players accepted a 75-per-cent wage cut to try and save jobs. The forward later admitted the manner of his subsequent departure from Ibrox, when he described Rangers as a new club, was one of the biggest regrets of his career.
‘The initial situation creates a lot of uncertainty and worry,’ he said. ‘You saw how long things progressed at Rangers.
‘It’s so far from our normal day-to-day lives as footballers that it can be hard to deal with. Can you learn from things you did right and mistakes made? Totally.
‘Back in those days, you were much more naïve. What you feel you’re doing is definitely the right thing.
‘Like everything in life, you do learn from experiences.’