When Hearts can be crowned Scottish Championship winners

Hearts hold a commanding lead at the top of the Scottish Championship.

The gap to second place Raith Rovers is 14 points with only eight fixtures remaining for the Tynecastle side.

The Fifers have two games in hand which, if they win both, will reduce the deficit to eight points.

Earlier this week, it was revealed by Deputy First Minister John Swinney that “landmark events” could be in jeopardy.

Hearts are on course for a Scottish Championship win. Picture: SNS

It followed the fallout from the title celebrations of Rangers fans with thousands taking to the streets of Glasgow.

Hearts’ title celebration could be considered a ‘landmark event’ in the sporting calendar with concerns of supporters, however unlikely it is, congregating to pay tribute to the league win.

Robbie Neilson’s men, of course, have plenty of work to do to get over the line and confirm their return to the Premiership, continuing with Ayr United at Tynecastle on Saturday.

They are strong favourites to win the title with one bookmaker giving odds of just 1/40.

Hearts are on course to be confirmed Premiership champions on April 17 when they travel to face Greenock Morton.

That would be on the basis of Raith Rovers winning both their games in hand and next handful of fixtures, plus Hearts picking up wins over Ayr, Queen of the South and Alloa at Tynecastle, plus wins at Arbroath, Dunfermline and then at Morton.

Realistically the title will be wrapped up sooner. Raith haven’t put back-to-back wins together since October and face Inverness in their next two fixtures. The Rovers’ record against the Highlanders stands at no wins in 90 minutes from the previous 21 meetings.

Looking at the points per game average of the sides first and second in the league, Hearts are on course to finish with 59 points and Raith 44.

The title could feasibly be wrapped up at the beginning of next month.

Hearts’ fixture with Dunfermline Athletic looks key on Saturday, April 3.

The Pars are just a point behind Raith and have two games in hand over Hearts, including a Fife derby.

A win at East End Park, while gaining revenge for the defeat there earlier in the season, could see Hearts on the cusp of becoming league champions, if not confirming it there and then.