Hearts: Former boss John Robertson hopes for 'new dawn'

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Former Hearts forward and manager John Robertson

Former Hearts manager John Robertson has given his reaction to BBC Scotland on the club's financial crisis and intention to enter administration.

"It's been a day that's been coming for a long, long time. We've got to deal with it now in the right manner.

"We need an administrator to come in now and try to arrange a CVA agreement and do what they can for the creditors; then put in place measures for the club to go forward with a brighter future.

"I said at the time (of the share issue) I wanted honesty, transparency and clarity. They told me how badly they needed the money at the time and wanted to do the share issue.

"It's not a question of what the fans tried to do, it's what they did do. They saved the club from going into administration during the season.

"We were all told that, come the end of the season, that the club would be self-sustainable and they'd be able to reduce the budget down to a level where the club could go forward and trade properly.

"But there seems to be one bill after another that's come out and the club's had to apply for administration.

"I don't think any of the senior players will be left on the books due to the administrator going in and cutting the bigger wages that are left.

"My concern would be of clubs interested in some of Hearts' young talent: Walker, Holt, Paterson, McHattie etc.

"If Hearts were to lose them on top of the transfer embargo then it would be nothing more than the current u-19 team with one or two u-21s.

"It would look like they'd head towards the First Division.

"We knew this day was coming and it's not a total surprise that's come out of the blue.

"When you see the likes of Dunfermline, Dundee, Livingston etc; we've all had our problems dealing with them.

"Scottish football needs to heed these warnings and move on. We've talked about the revamp of Scottish football in general and have seen the first steps of that happening.

"Our game is suffering from ill-health and Hearts will have to accept the consequences. The supporters realise that and we all understand that. We have to do so with dignity and move on.

"Although it's the darkest day, tomorrow could see the dawn of a stronger club that's run within its means."

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20 comments

  • He needs to take a bite of a reality sandwich.

  • Stillbuzzin

    You'd better keep your ID secret as there's a big queue to dance on yours!

  • Hey Stillbuzzin it ain't gonna go your way I can promise you that - The Phoenix Hearts willrise

  • The thing that sticks in the throat is Romanov and Hearts attitude toward Rangers during their meltdown.. They MUST have known as they were sticking the boot in and slagging off Rangers that they were on the financial brink themselves, in which case they have just made absolute dummies of themselves and their fans.

  • Throw your right wing pro war sky dishes in the nearest bin and start afresh . Sky the downfall of football money is everything culture. Don't know how Aberdeen are still going after spending a million on Paul Bernard in the 90s . Almost to hard to believe a million quid. Since sky arrived on scene football in Scotland went downhill and now look at the mess.

  • Don't really understand what JR is saying. He swallowed the guff the club told him about the share issue and he went out to convince fans to part with their money. Surely this makes him culpable of complicity.

  • I'm really pleased Wallacer Mercer never shut your perennial losers down when he had the chance.

    If he had, you would have missed out on seeing your club receiving many more derby hammerings. The highlights being 4-0 at Hampden in the SC semi final and of course the 5-1 hammering in the final itself.

    HHGH

  • Surely the so called Hearts legends should be lying low and staying quiet after their backing and encouragement for Hearts fans to purchase shares. You didn't have to be a financial genius to see that was money down a black hole.

  • Aye, send your money to FOH. Unless of course you bought a season ticket from a club who knew they were bust long ago.

  • Gintaras Adomonis of Lithuanian firm UAB Valnetas, who is dealing with the bankrupt financial institution, (UKIO) has approached BDO to ask it to prepare to take control of the club...

    it is believed the Lithuanian request is likely to be granted given Ukio Bankas holds a floating charge over the club's assets, including Tynecastle Stadium.

    +++

    Bye-bye, Hearts.
    Karma.

  • http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2344197/Hearts-going-liquidation-life-newco-inevitable-says-colleague-Vladimir-Romanov.html

    Going down! Hearts chairman Romanov's henchman says liquidation is inevitable

  • So Hearts needs £1/2m to get through to the season.
    If Hearts has no money for even an insulting attempt at a CVA, no income to pay the players, no assets to sell to raise funds, no ground because it's already been hocked, then it's not a viable business.

    Yer no comin' back; I'll dance on yer grave.

  • robbo you have made a completefull of yourself trying to save your club and letting them fill your head with mince pies. Wallace mercer was right many years ago one city one team and they always wear green

  • Errmm...
    Maybe if a certain somone hadn't devoured all the pies, they would have some stock to repay their creditors.

  • It's not necessarily the darkest day, you could always get liquidated too.

  • Let's hope that the ordinary creditors don't get shafted here.

  • What a load of tosh. Hearts are just the latest in a long line of badly managed scottish clubs to go into administration.

  • Starting next season on -15 and with a probably transfer embargo, staying up will be the priority. And that assumes a CVA.

    Worst case is liquidation and the path taken by Rangers, starting ("again") in SL2.

    As for #1's German model. Yes, great idea. But first you need to overcome some short-term financing problems.

  • CALL TO ARMS
    ALL HEARTS FANS MUST NOW PLEDGE TO FOH
    LETS MAKE HEARTS THE FIRST GERMAN STYLE MODEL RUN CLUB
    LETS DO THIS

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