RS: Cup win no crumb of comfort

Ryan Stevenson admits victory in the Scottish League Cup final might not be enough to make up for the shame of Hearts' current league campaign.

Last Updated: 04/03/13 at 15:48 Post Comment

Ryan Stevenson: Disappointed with form in the league

Ryan Stevenson: Disappointed with form in the league

Manager Specials

So who will replace David Moyes as manager of Everton after his appointment as Sir Alex Ferguson's successor at Manchester United? Wigan's Robert Martinez heads the betting. Check out the latest odds

The Tynecastle outfit have slumped to second bottom of the standings after losing their last five Clydesdale Bank Premier League games.

First-team coach Gary Locke was in charge for the most recent of those matches - Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Motherwell - after boss John McGlynn was sacked last week.

Hearts now have Tuesday's home encounter with St Johnstone and Sunday's Edinburgh derby clash with Hibernian at Easter Road - both in the SPL - before meeting St Mirren for the League Cup decider on March 17.

Player aspirations to succeed at Hampden Park will be fading after last week's developments followed various off-field financial problems and a string of recent departures including those of first-team regulars Ryan McGowan and Andy Driver.

Stevenson claims even landing the cup - and a first winner's medal of his career - might not be enough to restore the club's battered pride.

He said: "We need to start picking things up now because we have got three massive games coming up and us sitting 11th in the table is nowhere near good enough.

"It's been a season we'd all like to forget. Obviously we have got the cup final coming up, but regardless of that, we are second bottom and the games are running out.

"Would a cup final win change that? I don't really know. I've never been in a situation to win something.

"Maybe a week on Sunday if we win the cup, I can possibly sit there and say it's been a great season, because I've won my first medal. It's been a long time for me personally to have the chance of winning anything.

"But since I came here, we have always been pushing up the top end of the table. So for us to be sitting here down the bottom is something I can't stop thinking about.

"Would it take the shine off a cup win then? Possibly yes. Your league campaign is your bread and butter and as much as you go on about a cup run, the fact your manager has lost his job and it's getting harder and harder to make the top six is a major disappointment."

McGlynn was relieved of his duties the morning after last Wednesday's 2-0 league defeat to their cup-final opponents in Paisley.

It was the 15th defeat from his 35-game spell in charge of Hearts after he quit Raith Rovers to rejoin a club where he had previously headed the youth development programme.

But Stevenson insisted McGlynn could not have done much more to try to make a success of his tenure and it was for that reason that he personally called the dismissed manager to offer his sympathies.

He said: "I spoke to John on Friday. I have nothing but admiration for him - I can't speak highly enough of the guy.

"Day in, day out, he worked his socks off for the club and was always there for his players. It would be good to see him back as soon as possible, because the game needs guys like that.

"I imagine he would have been low at that point when we spoke. It's a club he supports and it was his dream job. For him to only have eight months at it would probably have been hard for him to take.

"But he's a football man and he knows the results haven't been good enough. It's hard as well because the players have got to take a look at themselves too. There is only so much the manager can do. Ultimately he has paid the price for us not doing well enough.

"It wasn't an easy phone call, but sometimes you have to make it.

"Sometimes when you are one of the older, experienced ones in the team, you have got to think about that. At the end of the day, John has lost his job and it's a horrible situation. In my career I've lost too many managers.

"Thursday was a sad day for me, because John was one of the nicest men I've met in football."

TEAMtalk Facebook Fan Page

The TEAMtalk fan page is a great place to meet like minded people, have football related discussions and make new friends.

Related News

Sky Bet

    • Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds

Most Commented

Readers' Comments

T

he day Tonys hat goes missing for some bantz will be different story altogether..

TheBrestEver
Stoke probe 'banter gone wild'

I

m starting to think Roman may never actually be happy at the top level. If he wants all conquering fancy football I wonder if he'd be better off buying a lower division side then paying outlandish salaries to attract high caliber players too good for the division.

john matrix
The Most Unsatisfying European Victory...

R

afa has to be favourite for the Everton job now, surely :) He'll realise his ambition to live and work on Merseyside again, get the best out of whoever plays for them, maybe win some cups and be thoroughly loathed by the toffee fans. What's not to like? Go ead, Ken, gimajob!

captbusby
Benitez basks in final glory

Footer 365

Alan Pardew confident he will still be Newcastle manager next season

Alan Pardew is 'pretty confident' he will stay as Newcastle manager after ending the season with a defeat by Arsenal.

Michael Owen had mixed emotions after his final appearance for Stoke

Retiring Stoke striker Michael Owen admitted he had mixed emotions after his final appearance for the club.

Premier League: Paul Lambert says 'something is happening' at Aston Villa

Paul Lambert refused to answer questions about the future of Darren Bent following Aston Villa's 2-2 draw at Wigan.

Mail Box

James Collins Is Only 29. Tough Paper Round

He is one of a number of solid shouts for players that look old before their time. We also have the final words on lovely D-Beck and a rejection of end of season playoffs...

Without Posh, Becks Could Have Been Scholes

That's one opinion, but others give their thanks to the man. We also have ideas for a relegation playoff, happy memories of the season and a defence of Liverpool's campaign...

© 2013 British Sky Broadcasting Ltd. All Rights Reserved