Gary Mackay’s book not welcome at Hearts

Published on 18/12/2012 00:42

HE HOLDS the record for the most competitive games played for Hearts, spent 17 years of his career at Tynecastle, and has risen to the challenge in the club’s hour of need by helping to raise funds to keep the club afloat this season, but loyal servant Gary Mackay is at the centre of an astonishing snub by the club he loves.

The Scotsman has learned that the former captain’s new book Gary Mackay’s Hearts Dream Team was banned from the club shop adjacent to their stadium and a planned party cancelled, because the author chose the late Wallace Mercer and not current majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov as his dream team chairman.

Hearts had initially ordered 100 copies of the book for sale in the shop, but Edinburgh-based publishers Black and White were told to take them back just before payment was due. Hearts also said the party was cancelled, although later changed their mind – but too late, as the publishers declined. According to our source, when asked why the books had been removed, it was explained that there was concern within the club that if Romanov discovered he had not been named dream team chairman, he would be angry, so all of the copies were returned.