Hearts Still Need All The Support They Can Get

Last updated : 01 February 2013 By Ed_Scottishfitba

20100402-Hearts badgeHearts manager John McGlynn has warned fans that the club's financial worries will not be solved by their appearance in the Scottish Communities League Cup final at Hampden on 17 March. Hearts return to Hampden to take on St Mirren next month, but McGlynn insists that and rewards accruing from a win that day will not be enough to move the Jambos out of the red.

He stated: "
I'm not the financial director, so I don't know the exact state of play. However, I would still encourage the fans to support the club by turning up for the games. That is the biggest thing that they can do and there was another big support on Wednesday evening at Dundee. But no-one should get complacent with the financial situation at the football club and think that we have cracked it by getting to the cup final. There is more to it than that."

A transfer embargo was only partially lifted earlier this month by the SPL after payment of outstanding wages and bonuses due to playing staff, with the terms relaxed to allow them to bring in players aged 21 or younger, and only on a one-out, one-in basis. This allowed McGlynn to sign both Danny Wilson and Michael Ngoo on loan from Liverpool, but admits he was still limited in what he can do in terms of new recruits as the January transfer window closed last night.

He said: "
We were never that close to doing any business. We chucked it about lunchtime. We knew we were not going to get anybody in, so we just had to concede. The restrictions made it very difficult for us really. There was no offers for any of our players either. Pleasing? Definitely. That was going to be my best-case scenario anyway, not to lose anyone. And the fact we have added Danny and big Michael is good. Those guys have made an impact and the fans have taken to them very quickly as well. So I'm quite happy with how the transfer window went."

Hearts reached the cup final after beating Inverness on penalties at Easter Road last Saturday and followed that up with a last-gasp 1-0 win over Dundee in midweek. The teams for these games were packed with teenagers, a situation that has pleased McGlynn considering the restrictions he faces. He said: "When you look at how well the young players have adapted, it lessened the need to bring in new players. The two games there against Inverness and Dundee, those players acquitted themselves very well. It's reassuring that we have got young players with the talent to come through. The fans are able to link with these players much more as they are coming out of their communities. They can relate to them. In days gone by guys like John Robertson, Gary Mackay and Dave Bowman all broke through and went on to have long and great careers with Hearts. Hopefully these lads can do similarly."

Hearts have the long road to Dingwall to travel when they take on Ross County but McGlynn is not expecting an easy ride. However, he knows the rewards are huge for a team just six points off city rivals Hibs in fourth place but with two games in hand. He said: "
There is only one team being consistent at the moment and that is Celtic. But everyone else, from second bottom to second top, is pretty close. We are only eight points off of second place. That is possible. But we travel to Dingwall and Ross County have brought a few players in. They started the year with a 4-1 win over St Mirren, got a good draw at Tannadice and then a victory over Hibs, so they have had some start to 2013. It's not a gimme by any stretch of the imagination. This week is certainly up there as one of the most satisfying I've had in this job but a win at Ross County would make it even better."