Hearts fans have stepped up to the mark before a ball is kicked once again – now it’s time for the players, managers and those in the big seats to do likewise.
Record Sport ’s exclusive that the Jambos are to slash the away allocation at Tynecastle next season to accommodate their bumper season-ticket sales is fantastic news for the club. Especially after the way the season ended, which might have seen supporters turned off if it had been any other club.
But I’ve always said the Hearts support are a special breed. Let me paint the picture of what they mean to me. There’s a tattoo of me and my oldest boy Carter leading Hearts out to play Celtic at a packed Tynecastle a decade ago that covers my back. The wee man was just three but was mascot and I was captain. The place was absolutely rocking. We lost the game but two things that were and are so close to my heart are now etched on my body for life.
It means the world to me. Just like the Hearts support. Through good times and bad times, they always back the team in numbers. They always buy their season tickets and merchandise.
The brass tacks of it is that they are the ones who push the club forward. Even when we were in turmoil in my second spell at the club, they were fantastic. They obviously pulled the club out the mire after that too.
But their support every time I pulled on the maroon jersey made me think I was the luckiest guy in the world. There was a reason why my career went downhill as soon as I left Hearts and that’s because of the void it left in my life.
That 100 per cent is down to the people. From Goggsy the kitman, team-mates and especially the supporters.
To get more of them in the place for every home game bar the visit of Hibs is brilliant. The derby is – and always should be -– a different matter. So hats off to both clubs for honouring the 3600 allocation there.
Celtic and Rangers fans might have something to say about their 650 allocation but they need to remember Hearts fans get about the same when they go to Glasgow. The fans are doing their job off the park and now the players, coaching staff and people who run the club need to make sure they’re doing theirs behind the scenes.
Making a few signings would be a good start. Another week passes and there’s not been much movement in the transfer market.
Frustrations creep in, fans get edgy, I’m the exact same. Every day I’m looking at the news thinking, ‘Come on, there has to be something’.
You have to live in the hope that behind the scenes they’re not panicking and are working on the right targets. If that means biting the bullet and paying what you have to pay, then so be it.
The fans are paying for season tickets and if the club are serious about becoming the third force and rolling with the big boys in Europe, then you have to pay the big bucks. That’s a fact.
The squad needs a freshness and Steven Naismith will know it. There are positives, though, and the sight of Liam Boyce and Beni Baningime back in action twice in the last few days is brilliant.
They will basically feel like two new signings. I just hope their patience in coming back is rewarded and they don’t suffer any recurrence of their ACL injuries.
Beni was a big miss in midfield. That presence he gives you, the assurance, he retains the ball well and gets around the park.
I remember when I played in midfield and I was one of these guys that was pure kamikaze at times. But he coasts through matches and never looks under pressure, always in space, and that shows how good a player he is.
Hearts missed that big time last season. So having the two Bs back in about will give everyone a real buzz. But there needs to be more new faces added on top asap.
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