Tynecastle Boss Responds After Hearts Miss Out on Premiership Top Six
Hearts CEO Andrew McKinlay has addressed fans following the club’s failure to secure a top-six finish in the Scottish Premiership, admitting supporters are well within their rights to criticise him after a deeply frustrating season.
A 0-0 stalemate against Motherwell confirmed Hearts’ place in the bottom half of the league post-split, sparking anger among fans already disillusioned with recent performances. Speaking to Hearts TV, McKinlay expressed his disappointment and issued a heartfelt apology.
“I’m absolutely devastated,” McKinlay said. “There’s no dressing this up – we’ve fallen short of both the fans’ and the club’s expectations. After such a poor start to the season, it looked like we’d turned a corner and were on course for the top six. I genuinely believed we’d make it, and while I was confident, I know some people ridiculed me for that – and I accept that now.”
With the focus now shifting to a crucial Scottish Cup semi-final against Aberdeen, McKinlay urged fans to rally behind the team. “We’ve got a massive game coming up, and this is a chance to salvage something memorable from a difficult season. I can only thank our fans for sticking with us through it all and ask them to get behind the team at Hampden.”
Reflecting on why Hearts didn’t meet expectations, McKinlay pointed to their lack of cutting edge. “Since the turn of the year, we’ve looked more solid defensively, but we’ve struggled to create and take chances. We’ve missed key opportunities in matches – like against Rangers and Dundee United – and fine margins have cost us dearly.”
McKinlay also commented on the changes made earlier in the season, with Steven Naismith replaced by Neil Critchley. He suggested that while there had been signs of progress, inconsistency in front of goal remained a major issue. “It’s hard to pinpoint one factor, but we haven’t been clinical enough, and that’s hurt us time and time again.”
Looking ahead to the summer transfer window, McKinlay assured fans that the club’s recruitment strategy remains unaffected by the top-six miss. “We’ve already got plans in place, and our financial position is stable. The result at the weekend doesn’t alter our approach. We’re determined to bring in players who will push us forward.”
He hinted at a significant squad overhaul, stating that fans should expect plenty of movement in and out of the club. “We know some players will be leaving, and others may follow. But we’re prepared for that. We’ve already brought in players like Christian Borchgrevink, who brings leadership qualities we need more of. There’s another signing close to being announced and others in the pipeline.”
Despite the setbacks, McKinlay remains optimistic. “The last five league games are still important. We want to finish seventh and build momentum. But our immediate focus is Saturday – a win at Hampden could be the start of rewriting the story of this season.”
