Hearts captain WILL lift Championship trophy - despite fan calls to blank celebrations (but there will be no party on the pitch)
Last updated 23rd Apr 2021
Hearts have confirmed captain Steven Naismith WILL lift the Championship trophy following their final home game of the season, against Inverness Caledonian Thistle tomorrow (Saturday).
That's despite calls from fans to boycott the celebrations in protest at their club's relegation from the Premiership last year.
But the Tynecastle side has said there will be "no fanfare, and no passing around of the trophy".
A statement issued this afternoon reads: "We understand the views of some supporters that we should not lift the trophy on Saturday. However, our players and backroom staff deserve to be recognised as the group that took the club straight back out of, notoriously, the most difficult league in Scotland to win promotion from, in the most challenging circumstances imaginable.
"At full-time the first team will collect their winners’ medals and our captain, Steven Naismith, will lift the trophy - respectfully and to honour the players’ achievement - before returning to the dressing room. There will be no fanfare, there will be no passing around of the trophy and there will be no party on the pitch, given the absence of our fans.
"This act will be an act of respect. Respect to our players for the ‘hard yards’ they put in over the course of the season, respect to our opponents who would love to be in our position and respect to the fans who continue to back the club in an unprecedented fashion."
Former Hibs and Aberdeen striker Steve Cowan - who was part of the last team outside the Old Firm to win the top division in 1985 - claims it should never have been up for debate.
The Big Scotland Football Show reporter said: "Very few teams get to win a trophy and very few players get medals, so I think this whole debate is an absolute sham - I think it's a disgrace.
"I think they should go out there, get the trophy, and get their medals; because, if it was me, I would be saying to anybody in that dressing room trying to talk me out of it: 'You do what you want to do, I'm going out to get my medal'.
"I've been lucky to win a few medals in my career, they're cherised and you look back on them.
"I was in the last team that won the Premier League outwith Celtic and Rangers back in 1985, so for the last 40 years no other Premier League player has won a Premier League medal - they're like golddust. So I cannot believe there is any discussion about this."