MOTHERWELL, SCOTLAND - MAY 09: Hearts manager Derek McInnes is seen at full time during the Premier League match between Motherwell FC and Heart of Midlothian FC at Fir Park on May 09, 2026 in Motherwell, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
More than a month on Ewan Murray still hasn’t come to terms with Celtic’s title success.
Officially Murray is the golf reporter of the Guardian. An expert on fairways, five irons, birdies and eagles.
His real passion in life is Hearts.
Since 1986 Albert Kidd has cast a shadow over his every move, drive, putt, chip and bunker shot.
In springtime Derek McInnes appeared ready to lift that gloom. Deliver a title and give Jambos something to celebrate.
On May 9 Hearts went to Fir Park four points ahead of Celtic on the back of a win over their cousins.
The title could have been won that weekend. It wasn’t. Celtic won the Glasgow Derby then away to Motherwell.
Murray arrived at Celtic Park on May 16 for a maroon title party. A draw would be enough. He muffled a cheer from the press box when Lawrence Shankland opened the scoring.
In the 86th minute Hearts were the As It Stands champions.
Ten minutes later he was a broken man. All around him Celtic fans celebrated.
And for Murray he would never hear again from Derek McInnes as Hearts manager.
The only thing that grates re Derek McInnes is that he has never addressed the end of the season (so, so many elements of it) to Hearts supporters. And he clearly has no obligation to as an employee of Rangers.
Those supporters deserve better than that.
— Ewan Murray (@mrewanmurray) June 17, 2026
McInnes wasn’t for hanging around after losing to Celtic.
CELTIC DESTROY THE MAROON DREAMS
Within five minutes of Callum Osmand he was on the bus pointed towards Tynecastle surrounded by broken men.
He never said a word to his media buddies.
It is believed that there was a post match interview given to Hearts TV. It hasn’t seen the light of day.
We all know what Murray wanted to hear from his then manager.
That players were attacked. About the missing minutes or preferably a mixture of both.
Now he has gone. The In Del We Trust banners can be binned. The McInnes range can join the SPFL title winners merch in the bin outside the Hearts Store.
All that Jambos have to cling to is the gloating of Celtic fans. A result of the meltdown inspired by two club statements and Tony Bloom’s interview with TalkSPORT.
Murray will never get that interview. After waiting 40 years for a near miss it could be a long time before he goes to another Hearts title decider.
What’s to address? Parked the bus. Ran to it full tilt after getting gubbed. Fabricated stories of ‘assault’ to distract from his failure.
‘Disgusting’.
— Methves (@FinnrikLarsson) June 17, 2026
Because they all ran away greeting ??? good times pic.twitter.com/61i7b2Dq5D
— Ric Flair (@Quadrofenians) June 17, 2026
Confirming his own personal grief.
You’ve spent the period since 16th May doing nothing but shouting and crying, squire.
— SDG (@hibeepessimist) June 17, 2026
Ewan Murray ….is that the scoop whose boat looks like it’s full of steroid injections and Botox ? All blown up looking like Billy Bunter ? Is that him ? Pass the chocolate cream doughnuts …..