Hearts have an exit strategy

AS HEARTS continue to stumble over the SPL finishing line, the eyes of their employees are already wandering towards next season. Tonight's encounter with Gretna marks the end of a vexing campaign for all connected with Tynecastle, hence the hankering for a clean slate.

Visiting a long-since-relegated club offers the opportunity to restore a modicum of pride following harrowing defeats by Falkirk and Kilmarnock. Gretna are bound for the First Division next season provided they remain in business beyond May 17, the deadline set by administrators for life-preserving investment at Raydale Park.

The financial predicament of the Borders club highlights the saying that there's always someone worse off than yourself, which may also accord Hearts some minor relief at present.

Although both clubs proclaimed very different footballing ambitions at this season's inception, Gretna's fate puts the travails at Tynecastle into some perspective.

Their £4million debt is dwarfed by the £36m currently being underwritten by Vladimir Romanov's Ukio Bankas Investment Group on Hearts' behalf. However, without Brooks Mileson or another benefactor, it has terminal consequences. The club which took Hearts to a penalty shootout in the Scottish Cup final just two years ago is preparing to close.

No-one at Tynecastle would term this season's bottom-six finish acceptable, least of all Romanov, but players, management and supporters at least have the chance for salvation next season and thereafter. Understandably, they are already pondering a fresh start, by which time tonight's opponents may not be in existence.

"You're sad to see any club go out of business," admitted Stephen Frail. "Look at the fairytale Gretna had: progressing through the leagues at such a rate, taking us to penalties in the cup final, it was fantastic for them. Hopefully things get sorted out there and they can continue as a Scottish Football League club."

Defender Christos Karipidis added: "We hope to finish with a win but I know about Gretna, they have big problems. This season has been very hard for everybody, the players, the management and the fans.

"We need to try to change something for Hearts next season. This is a big club in Scotland, we must do something to change things here. We must keep big players who have a strong character, and others must come in. If you want to challenge for the top three, you must have these players. I think any new players who come must make a big difference. It's no use players coming like the ones Hearts already have. I think two or three better players would help us."

The issue of new recruits is one of several for Romanov to address this summer. Whilst striving to appoint a new manager, he presumably wants to facilitate a place for Frail in his new coaching structure. Karipidis feels retaining the former full-back in some capacity is essential.

"Stevie must speak about things with the president. It is the president who organises everything here, which players come and which manager comes. I don't know how Shaggy will feel if a new manager comes here. If you ask me, I want Shaggy to stay. He knows everything about Hearts and has worked with the young players.

"I don't know the situation. For me, I'm happy with Shaggy. He tries to keep the confidence up and the players happy. We enjoy training and everyone knows about Stevie. He loves this team. We have had some good results under him but not enough for the top six."

Another already glancing towards the new campaign is Jason Thomson, who has started Hearts' last four consecutive matches.

He and Gary Glen have emerged from the Riccarton academy in recent weeks and, along with 16-year-old Scott Robinson's brief appearance, confirm that the youth programme is one area of the club which is running with precision.

However, Thomson conceded that recent performances have placed undue strain on the youngsters. He said: "It's hard coming into a team which is in the bottom six. It's the end of the season, the side isn't playing well.

"You can't have a good game every time but I just need to take what I've learned this year into next season and hopefully improve. We should be giving a performance tonight and offer a bit of hope.

"It doesn't do much for your confidence. When I first came into the team I suffered three defeats. When I came into the team a few weeks back I was glad just to get a win, followed by another the next week. There isn't the same atmosphere as there was before the split, which is understandable with us playing against the other bottom-six teams.

"I've only been in for the last four games but the spirit has been fine. At this stage people are waiting for the campaign to finish. Maybe some of the foreign lads are keen to get home and spend some time with their families. If that refreshes them and they come back more determined for next season, then the team can only benefit."

Saturday's lifeless defeat by Kilmarnock left Frail feeling as low as ever during his Hearts tenure. "Stevie had a few words to say," said Thomson. "We can't keep using excuses like it's an end-of-season game or a bottom-six game. The players need to take responsibility and we weren't good enough. I wouldn't say Kilmarnock were miles better but they wanted it. Things just didn't happen for us on the day but that's been the case too often this season.

"Shaggy has the option of freshening things up to try and lift it for tonight, but we have to lift it ourselves.

"That's two defeats in a row and now we go away to Gretna. No disrespect to them, they aren't doing too well, but we need to win. I think what everyone probably wants is just to get the season over. We can have a summer break and then come back ready for pre-season. We don't know what will happen in terms of a new manager or if players will be brought in.

"When we come back, we want to be starting the season with performances like we put in back in January. We were getting results at that time."

• STEPHEN FRAIL was downbeat after Hearts' lost 2-0 in their last home game of the campaign but his troops should be able to pick themselves up tonight and end the season on a high as they face a hapless Gretna. The hosts, Betdaq's 7/1 outsiders, haven't won since February but they have stubbornly drawn four of their last five matches to leave some pessimistic Jambos fans pondering a flutter, at 3/1 (Betdirect), on this contest finishing all square. But Betfred's 4/9 favourites will only have th

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