Ann Budge called for Hearts to “stand together” as the Gorgie club became the first Scottish side to buckle amid the coronavirus crisis.
A whopping 50 per cent pay cut was put to all full-time staff in a bid to ride out the storm.
But with the Jambos rock bottom of the table and an over-inflated but under-performing squad heading towards the Championship there was little backing for the one time Queen of Hearts on the Hotline .
Iain Alan, Linlithgow, slammed: “What a shambles Ann Budge has created at Tynecastle. Three duff managers in a row, bottom of the league and now trying to back out on contracts to players and employees. Yes there should be a clear-out in the summer starting at the very top, time to budge Ann!”
Brian Stavert, Dumbarton, got right to the heart of the matter: “How can Hearts find themselves in this position again? Why do they insist in paying players wages that they can’t afford. I thought Anne Budge was supposed to be a business woman?”
Andrew Lamb, Fraserburgh, added: “The COVID-19 crisis has actually been an ill wind for Budge. Despite much boasting from former Hearts players about there being loads of money at Tynecastle, the bottom line is that the Gorgie club have told everyone to take a 50 per cent pay cut or take a hike. Looks like the millionaire boss isn't too keen to fork out a few quid of her own.”
And Frank McFerran, Carrickfergus, said: “I would be surprised if most of Hearts good players don’t leave, Boyce, Washington, Smith, Hackett, Clare, to mention a few, The first three named could walk into teams in the English Championship. A 50 per cent cut is an awful lot of money to lose from one’s pay packet. I understand Budge is doing it to save the club in her view but it’s some cut.”
On to other matters and Alex Rae was in the firing line for his suggestion that the Premiership title race is NOT done despite Celtic’s 13 point lead.
Rae pointed to three previous seasons where both Rangers and Celtic have blown massive advantages in the closing stages to throw away the title.
But Steve McSherry, Uddingston, said; “Talk about deluded? Alex Rae has really outdone himself with his latest ramblings that Rangers could still catch Celtic. The league is over and Celtic WILL be crowned champions one way or another.”
Lance Little, Erskine, added; “Alex Rae and the millions of fans and supporters of Rangers will stoop to any means to stop the champions winning the league again. Do they actually think that waiting for the opportunity for their team to drop even more points will do that? They are collectively both embarrassing and laughable at the same time.”
Rangers coach Michael Beale reckons the halfway standings could be a fair way of determining the title.
But Mick McCallie, Dumfries, said: “Following Michael Beale ’s suggestion of pretending the last 11 league games should be disregarded to decide the title winners, I would like to make a suggestion of my own. Go by the head to head record between the two contenders. I make that aggregate score Celtic 3-2 Rangers.”
Sticking with the question mark hanging over the remainder of the league season and league reconstruction remains a popular option.
Scott Gowers, Edinburgh, suggested: “Promote six teams to the Premiership creating an 18 team league leading to a 34 game season. This would take away the ludicrous split which had Rangers having to play two teams three times at home in one season.
“The second tier can have 12 teams added to the four left in the division creating a 16 team league, 30 games, these teams are expected to have more Irn Bru Cup games than the third tier making up game numbers.
“For third tier promote a team from both the Highland and Lowland leagues to the eight left to create a 10 team league with the current four games against teams format, 36 games.”
Jim Docherty, Bathgate, agreed: “There should be no relegation and introduce four new teams from non leagues. This would increase the Premiership to 16 playing each other twice only, therefore make for 30 league games. All other leagues would remain the same number. This would reduce demand of around six to eight weeks of fixtures and also don’t have a winter break allowing addition of three weeks saved from current set up. Perhaps a good starting point for revamping Scottish football.”
Finally, Mark Tomberry, Crieff, has a novel idea: “Another option would be to let Gordon Strachan, Walter Smith and Steve Clarke sit as a form of pools panel to decide outstanding results.”
Now there’s a thought…
