Originally Posted by
Twa Cairpets
Just reading the thread over the past few days, and a few thoughts occurred to me.
1) Who gives a flying one about Skacel? Good player in his day, especially with a strong team behind him. He's now 33, hardly setting the heather on fire at Tannadice, and while him signing would undoubtedly give a short term boost to the hordes of yamfuddery, think of the longer term downside to them. Marginalised in a team of unproven and struggling kids. Resented by other senior players because he would undoubtedly demand and get a greater fantasy salary than his current worth. He'd increasingly struggle on the pitch, and it would be interesting to see how long he would retain icon status if he was in a team going down the pan or relegated.
We certainly shouldn't be worried him. He has had his moment in the sun. This is a different Hibs now, and I'd love to see his big nosed coupon greeting into his blooded turd strip when Hibs rip them a new one.
2) You cant ban players for not getting paid. That is punishing the victim (be they willing victims or not a la Stevenson). It would also as has been said mean that payment would be selective on current football ability, which would further impoverish youth team, coaches etc. Funny, but not fair. The punishment must be on the club, and must be points.
3) Sadly, under the rules agreed earlier this year, you cannot punish the club for deferring wages. It might not seem fair, but if its a change of contract willingly agreed then that is nothing to do with the SPL or SFA. Hearts can, rightly, say "we've not broken any rule, you can't punish us". if these wages are delayed without agreement then that's a different matter. Much as we may want them hung dran and quartered, the SPL cannot say or do anything until there is a breach.
4) Interesting to note that the prospectus claims of "Share money goes to youth development" has conveniently been dropped in Fuddytoes increasingly pleading announcements. At least they're now saying its for tax and wages. By Hearts standards that is startling honesty I suppose.
Finally, whatever happens and for the benefit of the terminal pessimists on here such as Jim44 and GoldenBear: Unless Vlad suddenly decides to write everything off, (which he of course won't) Hearts will suffer. Either they'll die or they'll be hamstrung for years. These are the only two options. There isn't a plot to save them. The SPL/SFA aren't being soft on them. They'll suffer in the same was that, ultimately, Rangers did. We know Rangers will be back because they have big crowds and will always get more money than we will. Hearts? Not so much.