What are the next steps for Hearts - court, manager, return to training, Scottish Cup clash with Hibs

The Tynecastle side face a four-month wait to return to competitive action

Nearly 100 days after Scottish football entered shutdown, Hearts were all but consigned to life in the Championship following the rejection around the latest league reconstruction proposals.

From lockdown, through the SPFL’s resolution and subsequent league reconstruction discussions, the Tynecastle support have leaned on the side of hope more than expectation that they would be saved from the second tier. The result of sitting bottom of the Scottish Premiership, four points from safety with eight games remaining, when the season was terminated on a points-per-game basis.

They now face at least a season in the Championship. So, what happens next?

What is next in store for Hearts after league reconstruction failed and legal challenge launched? Picture: SNS

Legal action

It took Hearts little over an hour after confirmation had been received that the league reconstruction plans had not gained sufficient support to provide a swift and succinct statement in response.

It then took just 171 words for the club to then confirm that they have been “left with no choice but to proceed with a legal challenge” with steps already taken.

Hearts, it appeared, would be set to go it alone. However, it was announced on Tuesday they would be joined by Partick Thistle after the Jags received funding to pursue a challenge and join forces with the Capital side.

Ann Budge has begun legal action with Partick Thistle over the clubs' demotion. Picture: SNS

Then, on Wednesday afternoon, the clubs submitted their papers to the court looking for the relegations to be overturned or substantial compensation to the tune of a combined £10million – £8million for Hearts and £2million for Partick Thistle.

The SPFL now have seven days to respond to the clubs’ petition with the league body confirming they had received the petition. No interdict has been sought yet to stop the Premiership season starting on 1 August, but they have noted they have the right to use it “in the event that becomes necessary”.

The statement read: “We would emphasise instead that we have no wish to disrupt Scottish football but rather our aim is to have the proceedings litigated to a conclusion as quickly as possible. In that regard, the Court has today granted our motion to reduce the normal period within which the SPFL must answer our petition, to 7 days.”

Speaking to The Times, former Hearts player David Winnie, now head of sports law at Charles Douglas Solicitors LLP, gave his take.

The future of Daniel Stendel as Hearts boss remains unclear. Picture: SNS

He said: “If I was advising Hearts, I would seek an interim interdict on the Premiership season starting, on the grounds that they should be involved in it. In fact, given that they announced their intention to take the SPFL to court immediately after their reconstruction plan was voted down on Monday, I suspect that they have already done so.”

“That would provide the SPFL with a logistical nightmare when it comes to delivering a fixture list. Ideally, this case will be fast-tracked at the Court of Session — the window is narrowing so the ruling must be expedited. If not, it may drag on for months and, if the ruling is in Hearts’ favour, then the Premiership would need to be restarted with them in it, which could lead to chaos and more contractual trouble with the broadcasters.

“I would also seek compensation for being relegated when there was a mathematical possibility that Hearts could have survived. Even if that amounted to only half of their projected losses for next season, that is money that would be paid for by the other members.”

Manager

Any supporters looking for clarity on the manager for next season will have to wait.

The club’s chair Ann Budge revealed to the Evening News that a sporting director is a priority and Daniel Stendel will have to wait before finding out if he will be given a new contract.

When Craig Levein was sacked as manager and director of football Budge had hoped to replace him in both positions. The latter role was never filled with Stendel appointed manager.

The German noted in the transfer market that he was doing aspects of the job he wasn’t used to.

It appears a sensible decision by the club to have a sporting director – someone who can act as a conduit between the board and the football side – in place first before any decision is taken on the managerial role.

Stendel, speaking to the Evening News, admitted his desire to continue as Hearts boss and is willing to renegotiate the contract he was on in the Premiership, which would likely mean reduced terms.

If he wasn’t to be given a new deal the club would be looking for their fourth permanent boss since Robbie Neilson left in 2016.

John Robertson, who many fans would have been keen to see return, recently signed a new deal with Inverness CT, while ex-winger Neil McCann has been touted as a possible option.

Start date

One of the many frustrating aspects of being demoted to the Championship for fans is the prolonged wait to watch their team in action once more.

The Scottish Premiership is due to begin at the start of August. Hearts, however, will have to wait until the middle of October with a provisional start date set for the 17th.

On top of that, the club will play each team in the division three times, giving them just 27 league games.

Training

With some Premiership clubs having already returned to training, there will be a much longer wait for Hearts.

No date has yet been set by the club, with Ann Budge suggesting it won’t be until August before the players are back to be put through pre-season training.

Signings

Don’t expect any movement anytime soon. Even when the new managerial structure is in place, it is hard to see much scope for new signings, unless a number of players leave.

The first-team squad, including a number of the most promising talents at the club, is still around 30.

It is likely be trimmed for a variety of reasons, namely the wage budget with the club in the Championship and the fact it is a number which is too big. There is set to be a focus on youth and it is essential a pathway is open for those players to gain experience.

Scottish Cup

No change here. Still no date has been set for the Scottish Cup semi-final clash with Hibs.

Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell confirmed earlier this month that there is a strong desire to finish the tournament but the likelihood is that it will have to be done before 2021.

“Ideally we want to play them in front of supporters,” he said “If it becomes apparent that we are not going to be able to get significant numbers of supporters into stadiums for a period of time then we’re going to have to make a decision on playing matches because the matches are important.

“It’s our flagship event and we want to finish it.”

Hampden Park is set to host the Euro 2020 play-off between Scotland and Israel in October so there will be scope to play the semi-final, although the chances of it being open to a full crowd is up in the air.

Season tickets

Sales are approaching 7,000 which is an impressive tally considering all that has happened, from relegation to failed league reconstruction to a likely spell behind closed doors.

Those fans who have bought briefs will gain access to home matches played behind closed doors via a live stream.

In addition, fans continue to back the Foundation of Hearts in increasing numbers as supporters rally behind the club.