Pressley calls on Scottish Executive to protect clubs

Published on 09/11/2012 01:02

Falkirk manager Steven Pressley has called on the Scottish 
Executive to step in and ensure the “mismanagement” which has driven Hearts to the brink of extinction never happens again.

The Tynecastle side have claimed they may enter liquidation by the end of the month unless supporters bail out the club by attending games and purchasing shares. Pressley believes the unprecedented Hearts crisis has occurred due to a complete lack of business strategy by the club’s hierarchy, which is led by majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov.

Having seen Rangers suffer liquidation during the summer following Craig Whyte’s tenure at Ibrox, the former Hearts captain believes it is now time for the Holyrood decision-makers to protect Scotland’s football clubs. Pressley, Hearts’ Scottish Cup winning captain in 2006, said: “The situation there is hugely concerning, with a club of that stature and club of that history to be on the brink. I hoped this day would never come. However it has been evident to everyone that there has not been a clear strategy at that football club for some time.

“That is the key aspect in the long-term stability of a football club – clear plans and sticking to that blueprint. You must try to be focused on a strategy, and I’m not convinced there ever has been one at Hearts. This has happened through the mismanagement from the top of the club. Not only do the SFA need to take notice, but also the government need to look at the management of football clubs.

“We really need the people who run our game to be regulated. It is worrying that we are allowing real institutions like Hearts to get into the situation they are in. The SFA and government must step in and start setting real guidelines for how football clubs are run.”