Mackay urges club to win back the fans
Hearts legend wants lessons to have been learned
GARY MACKAY insists Hearts must reconnect with their supporters after clinching the Championship title. Many Hearts fans are sceptical about the direction the club is going in under owner Ann Budge and manager Robbie Neilson.
The embarrassing Scottish Cup loss to Brora Rangers amid a dismal run of two wins in nine before Friday’s 6-0 thrashing of Alloa had left Neilson facing protests from supporters.
The league success comes just a year after Hearts were relegated from the top flight on a points-per-game basis following a woeful campaign under Craig Levein and then Daniel Stendel. And club legend Mackay insists Hearts need to convince the fans that the right infrastructure is in place on and off the pitch.
He said: “I’m delighted we are back in our rightful place after what has been a tumultuous 18 months.
“The aim at the start of the season was to get back into the Premiership but we can’t get away from the fact the aim would also have been to progress in the two cups and that wasn’t done, there is a balance.
“For supporters it’s nice to know there is now Premiership football ahead of us. It’s great to be back in the Premiership but we have to learn lessons going forward and have to be prepared because it’s a completely different animal to the Championship.
“I’m talking about the whole dynamic of the football club and everyone singing from the same hymn sheet.
“Most football clubs are galvanised when there is a connection between the fans, the players, the board, the management – and that needs to be worked on going forward because right now there is a disconnect.”
But Liam Boyce insists the fans should be directing their anger at the players, not at Neilson.
The Northern Ireland international said: “There are high expectations and we know the fans always want more and they’re totally within their rights. As footballers we want more, when there are questions on the gaffer, it should be us that are questioned.
“It’s us on the pitch with our performances and we know how hard the gaffer works and we went out there to prove a point.
“Friday was the kind of performance that was needed.
“Everyone was disappointed after the recent Queen of the South defeat and we sat down and had a chat. We knew after the Brora result that confidence takes a bit of a hit and we weren’t doing the right things and making the right decisions. We let it all out and thankfully we came out on Friday and did the right things and made the right options.”
Friday was a good night collectively for the team and for Boyce personally as he grabbed a hat-trick to take his club tally for the campaign to 16.
Euan Henderson, Aaron McEneff and Jamie Walker also found the net in the rout.
Boyce was thrilled with his scoring exploits as he attempts to reach another milestone in the final three league games, starting with Morton on April 20.
“I knew it was a short season. I always aim to get 10 before Christmas and 20 before the end of the season. Now that I’m that close I will be doing everything I can to get 20.”