Jackie Chiles

I thought the guy in the club shop noticing an XL top at the front of the rack was a tense moment. Just showed how far the club had sunk at that point. From a club PR point of view, not as bad as it could have been but as a supporter, I was getting increasingly annoyed at how how easily the sh1tfest Levein created was airbrushed as "that's football" and failed to highlight the real anger from the stands. Still cringe at MacPhee with his suit and tie and stats to hand to hype up his record. Did laugh at him being driven over the bridge in his suit and tie like a convicted drink driver and then rallying the team about "the f*cking war".

I used to work with Craig Thomson's twin brother, a Paisley lad who had a ST at St Mirren but aye, he's a Hearts fan. Guess Willie Collum is a staunch Hearts man as well now....

Kurskis was bad but Pereira easily the worst I have seen at Hearts. Was like a hologram playing in goal. Reminded me of that guy you played with at 5s, who was a good outfield player but hated playing in goals and would let one in, so he could be back playing outfield

Still laugh/despair at the comment on his profile on the Man Utd website "former Reds boss Jose Mourinho has predicted his compatriot will become the outstanding Portuguese goalkeeper of his generation. "

No, my point was Darryl Broadfoot trying to deflect an argument framing it as all about Hearts,when Hearts were impacted in a unique way. Obviously other teams were impacted but I'm not convinced there was any risk of letting Hearts continue training. Agree on this having little impact on the Semi Final but then you have to agree on same basis, that letting Hearts continue training but other Championship teams not start, had little advantage to Hearts, given the season start was so far away. I'm not that bothered by this decision, just think it was unnecessary.

Hearts were the only team who had taken players off furlough. It's clearly not the same impact.

Injuries were a factor in the dip of form, that is undeniable (losing both your centre halves, best midfielder and best attacker) but not to the extent of how bad it got. Ultimately his recruitment, tactics and coaching were sh1te and he was right to be punted. Albeit, should have been after the cup final.

True that this was in the guidance notes but I didn't see it mentioned that it was purely just for journalists. Point is ,hearts were specifically impacted, so bit bizarre the all about Hearts angle. I still don't see the risk of letting Hearts carry on training and avoiding this farce. If there is a good argument for it then all I'm all ears.

The JRG statement only mentioned one male club by name. A little bit rich of Broadfoot to go down the all about Hearts route to denigrate the argument when a statement, I assume he helped craft, specifically singled out Hearts. Personally, I'm not foaming at the mouth on the decision, just don't understand why they couldn't have let Hearts carry on training and avoid more tedious arguments.

The spin from Broadfoot was admirable defending the JRG. A lot of crap though as the simple solution would be to just have suspended training for all league clubs who hadn't yet started training, and not impacting anyone who had taken staff off furlough. Quite why Hearts training at a national sports complex is a major risk to the game is beyond me. For those saying Hearts have no need to train this far in advance of the season, surely that means there is little advantage over the other Championship teams if they just carried on training? From a Hearts point of view, the SC semi is a red herring, it's so far away that suspending training now has little impact on that. Levein's point on Naismith was weak as well, especially given how often he was injured under his training.

David Wagner is the manager at Schalke. The Edinburgh Evening News is reporting that fans of SV Meppen in the German 3rd Division have a petition to make Stendel the manager as "he likes a drink with the fans". One of these rumours may be true.

Forgot to reply to this yesterday but yeah, none of the Hearts or Rangers proposals garnered much support, but as I say, clubs and the SPFL must have known a no to reconstruction meant legal action which is why I was surprised at the lack of proactive moves by the SPFL at the start and why Dundee United voted against, as that would have ruled out any moves to null and void. Albeit, don't think that will happen and at best Hearts will get some additional compensation.

The rumours are that he advised Budge he was taking another job (Schalke according to the 'ITK' on Kickback) and so Budge moved for Neilson at that stage. It did seem strange the announcement regarding Stendel only came today. What is also strange, is us not taking at least a month to get a replacement in.

Yeah, Hearts spend all the money and then go "Baws, how is this going to be funded?" and get on the blower to James and FOH begging for more money. Think you have a scoop there.

It will, which is why I think the £8m figure is brinkmanship, as I can't believe that will be the award, if compensation is agreed but the threat of it may get something substantial. Hearts are being demoted to a league with less games than the Premiership and all the sympathy from other chairman isn't going to make up that financial shortfall. The best way to avoid any legal action was reconstruction as it was always coming otherwise. It was an imperfect solution to avoid this mess, well unless the Hearts and Partick case is kicked out immediately.

You're kidding yourself if you think other fans wouldn't have clamoured for this in the same situation.

He'll flop without Levein signing all the players and picking the team.

A moral high ground doesn't safeguard people's jobs or placate a support. The majority of the Hearts support wanted the club to fight any demotion without a challenge, so as a soon to be fans owned club, Budge was always going to take legal action once reconstruction inevitably failed. Seems to be an undercurrent on this board whereby Hearts taking this action is only happening because it's Hearts. If the league had been called with Celtic or Rangers 4 points behind the other (OK that would never have happened) or the season declared null and void and Dundee United not promoted, those clubs would be taking legal action as well. The SPFL were fully aware legal action was likely following the original vote and both they and Hearts have been preparing for this for weeks.