The SPFL have opened the doors for Hearts to sign new players despite the club being in administration.
A campaign of bleating has emerged from Tynecastle in recent weeks as the full ramifications of administration are seen on the pitch where the combination of a transfer embargo and 15 point deduction has the club marooned at the bottom of the league.
After years of lording it over clubs on the credit line from Vladimir Romanov Hearts are now partly paying the penalty of living way beyond their means at the expense of well run solvent clubs like St Mirren, Partick Thistle and Ross County.
Repeating the attitude of 2012 when he attempted to provide Sevco with a place in the top division Neil Doncaster is showing that debt and administration seems to be treated on a par as a run of suspensions or injuries and is there to be worked around.
Showing no regard for the public bodies, charities and businesses owed money by Hearts the SPFL have invited the club to attempt to sign players in their bid to beat relegation and reach the final of the League Cup.
After a meeting at Hampden today using his famous double-speak Doncaster said: “If Hearts wish to register an individual player then the process is very clear and there’s no question of changing the rules.
“The rules are clear, it has been the case since last summer and these were the rules we used last summer.”
Despite going into administration in June Hearts were able to register Danny Wilson with the former Liverpool player handed a lucrative three year deal at the same time as players and staff were being handed P45’s.
With encouragement from Hampden Hearts are in talks with Rudi Skacel and Andrew Driver to join the debt ridden club and add to their wage bill.
What Inverness Caley Thistle, who meet Hearts in the semi-final of the League Cup make of this is unknown but allowing a club in administration to sign seasoned professionals makes a mockery of so called sanctions.
On Saturday John Sutton scored the only goal of the game as Motherwell condemned Hearts to another defeat with the striker well known to the Gorgie outfit.
In 2011 with money that they clearly didn’t have Hearts signed Sutton from Motherwell after he had finished the season as the top goalscorer at Fir Park.
Not long afterwards he was shipped out on loan to Australia as other strikers became flavour of the month at Tynecastle.
As administration visited Hearts in the summer the contract that had attracted him from Motherwell was worthless with the player made redundant.
As Hearts and their apologists bleat about their predicament it’s players like Sutton and the dozens that lost money through administration that are deserving of sympathy.
Hearts made Sutton redundant during the summer but without irony manager Gary Locke claimed on Saturday: “I’ve said all along I would just like to have a couple of experienced players to help them on the pitch. Because I think that would make all the difference for us. I’m not expecting anything to change [as a result of the appeal]. All we’re asking is a wee bit of a help.
“My worry is some of the players are struggling, confidence-wise, and it would be ideal to give them a little breather. But unfortunately we can’t do that.”
After the Sevco fiasco in 2012 the sight of Skacel and Driver celebrating a Hearts goal will confirm once and for all that sporting integrity is up for negotiation while Doncaster remains in office.
Sack Doncaster now please ! Disgraceful behaviour !
Well said,Joe.
You have to laugh at Doncaster, ” there is
no question of changing the rules. ”
My arse, as Jim Royal would say.
They make up the rules as they go along.
They have probably told the skint new
club, that they will get the League Cup
final to host.
An aberdeen,hearts final would put much
needed money into the sevco coffers.
So is a 3′ rd party going to also benefit, if
hearts are given a helping hand ?
Joe,
I meant to add, great photo.
Was that Dundee breaking hearts at Dens,
in 1986.
I remember that day well.
I was at Love St, and the Green Machine
were unstopable that day.
When the news of Albert Kidd’s double
filtered through,we couldn’t believe it.
That day has, and will always, stay with me
forever.
For the jambos , it was a Crying Game !!
Joe
I was at love street that day and it was amazing.
Still find it hard to believe that mo Johnston went on to play for the deceased club.
Heard that when Kidd scored there was initial celebrations at the asbestos arena.
Followed by dismay that it was Albert not Walter.
Haw haw haw
“There’s no question of changing the rules”, he said, while sneakily changing the rules.
Rules? What rules, following the. Law,rules,and dictates requires at least intelligence, which is in short supply in the establishment.Remember Mr J Garry ,Mr H Dallas et all.