Stand and deliver

I have observed from afar, and with increasing bemusement, the saga of Heart of Midlothian’s new main stand.

With delay following delay and an undignified dash having taken place to gain a temporary safety certificate, I have found The Scotsman’s coverage of the affair to be rather lacking in objectivity. Hearts, in my view, have botched this project by setting wholly unrealistic timescales and instead of the grand opening one might expect for a new stand we have had a rather am ateurish 11th hour debut. The tone of Scots man coverage, however, seems largely to be that of lauding a great battle against the odds rather than voicing criticism of a situation which, it should be recalled, was apparently compounded by the club forgetting to order the seats!

As somebody whose late husband worked on the reconstruction of Celtic Park, I can’t help but wonder why Hearts didn’t try to negotiate a seasonlong deal at Murrayfield in a similar way Celtic decamped to Hampden and thus allow the contruction project to be carried out at a more realistic pace.

The willingness of Ed inburgh City Council to extend such close assistance to Hearts on this will not sit well with Hibernian supporters who recall the council’s unhelpful approach when Sir Tom Farm- er was attempting to secure the Lochend Butterfly land to assist with the club’s stadium development. Nor will many have forgotten how Hibs’ request to host their opening match away from home as their own main stand neared completion was rewarded by a home game to open the season! ( DR) ANGELA BURNETT

Idron Pyrénées- Atlantiques, France