Former Hearts star Jimmy Sandison insists it's time for a dressing room reckoning in Gorgie - as he admitted he can no longer fight manager Robbie Neilson's corner.
Despite a 13-point lead at the top of the Championship fans are alarmed at a recent run of results that included a Scottish Cup exit to Brora Rangers during the week.
And that was quickly followed up by another loss when the club returned to league action on Saturday as Queen of the South bagged their first win at Tynecastle since 1963 thanks to Andy Irving's late own goal.
A small gathering of supporters outside the Gorgie ground protested before the match with placards and banners urging the exit of Neilson and chairman Ann Budge.
Sandison, who is co-commentator for the club's matchday coverage, insists it's time for the players to sort things out themselves - even encouraging them to have a fight if need be.
Asked if there's any doubt Hearts could throw away their promotion points advantage late on in the season, he said: “I can’t see it, but if there’s a situation when the other teams below us are thinking, ‘hang on a minute here’, we’re giving them belief, but I can’t see it.
“We are on a really poor run of form at the minute. We are in a place where I’ve never seen us before.
“If you talk about motivation and management and all these things, the players are sitting in the dressing room right now, just shut the doors and have a huge conversation.
“I’d like to hear that one or two of the players in there are fighting each other.
“Sort this whole situation out. Something needs to change.
“No doubt he manager will sit and have a right go at them, but sometimes it’s better for the management to shut the door and leave the boys to sit and have a chat.”
Sandison insists he's struggling to back up the boss from the gantry as the slide continues.
He said: “I try to defend him, I know it’s difficult down there.
“I actually can’t defend him any more. I’m struggling to find any positivity to say, ‘well, it was because of that, or there’s an excuse’.
“It’s now at a stage where they have to get their finger out and deal with what’s going on in a better manner."
