Scottish Cup tie is first big test for Tynecastle's new boss

Manager Chris Scott will lead his side against Scottish Amateur Cup winners Shortlees AFC at their new Meggetland home on Sunday for what is an historic day for a club long associated with success at  youth level in the national  competitions.

Scott, who has replaced former manager Steven Vinter as boss after he had a three-year spell in charge, doesn’t want their William Hill Scottish Cup Preliminary first-round tie to be just a one-off, however.

“It’s huge, both on a personal level to be the first manager and there’s a lot of people who are still involved like Dougie [Dalgleish, chairman], for these people it is fantastic,” said Scott. “Fair play to the guys last season for getting us here.

“It’s not something we want to do just this year, our ambition is to be in it every year and push the club forward in the right direction. It’s exciting, really, really exciting, but it will be a tough game as well.

“They’ll be good; you don’t win the Scottish Amateur Cup when you’re not a good side. They might look at it and think it’s not a too bad draw for them when you see some of the teams that were in the hat. We have to fully respect them, we’ll go in there and be professional about it and do what we can and hopefully that will see us through to the next round.

“We’ll have to be on our mettle. You have seen over the years that teams who have won the Scottish Amateur Cup have had a wee bit of success against teams that are in it more regularly.”

Season 2018/19 is sure to be an exciting one for the club who have made the move to Meggetland Sports Complex in Craiglockhart from their roots in Saughton Enclosure in a groundsharing agreement with Boroughmuir Rugby Club.

Tynecastle have moved the cup tie to Sunday as their cohabitants Boroughmuir are in action tomorrow. Scott, who managed Tynecastle Under-16s last season after a spell with the seniors, is hopeful the rugby posts will be removed overnight. “When I came back last season I went and coached the 16s but I was always wanting to get back into the senior game,” said Scott.

“When this job came up again, the club asked if I would be interested and it was too good an opportunity to turn back. Especially when you see everything happening at the club with the move to Meggetland.

“The pitch is looking really good. I hope the posts will be changed, although I have to say that with some of our shooting last Saturday they were maybe thinking too much about rugby goalposts! We’re confident that will be taken care of.

“We played Hearts a few weeks ago [in a friendly], it was brilliant and there was just shy of 700 or 800 people there. It gave everybody an experience of what the ground is all about.”

Elsewhere this weekend, Bonnyrigg Rose return to Scottish Cup action for the first time since their memorable performance in the competition two years ago when they reached the fifth round against Hibs after stunning Championship club Dumbarton. David White’s men visit fellow East of Scotland outfit Hawick Royal Albert.

Jack Lynch’s Preston Athletic entertain Glasgow University at the Pennypit in what will be viewed as winnable tie, with a home match against Linlithgow Rose awaiting the victors.