Hearts boss Craig Levein insists he’s drafted in the clubs kids to help make sure Tynecastle is ready for Sunday’s clash against Partick Thistle
The decision on whether the Tynecastle main stand will be safe to open for Thistle will be decided tomorrow but Levein is hopeful it will happen
CRAIG LEVEIN has revealed Hearts have drafted in their own KIDS to help get Tynecastle ready for Partick.
Injuries have forced the Jambos boss to blood teenagers such as Harry Cochrane ON the pitch in recent weeks.
Now they have been drafted in OFF the pitch to help try and get the Gorgie ground up to scratch.
This time last week Levein feared that there was no chance of tomorrow’s clash with the Jags going ahead.
But since then Ann Budge’s team has battled against the clock to get the £12million main stand ready.
Budge was at the ground yesterday wearing her hard hat, overseeing the huge last-minute operation.
And Levein admitted that, as things stand, he is cautiously optimistic the work will be completed on time.
He said: “We’ve come a long way. I was down the Friday before and wasn’t sure.
“But yesterday I thought it looks good. Even the kids were down yesterday putting numbers on seats!
“It would be a major disappointment if the game was to be called off now.
“I’m kind of immune to the whole thing now because I thought we were coming back in September, then November 5, so now we’ll just take it as it comes.
“We have basically planned for the game going ahead at Tynecastle.
“If it is off, it is off, and we will have to take it on the chin.
“The difficulty is that it will slot in somewhere and the other teams round about us will have an advantage, because we will be cramming three games into a week.
“The stand itself looks amazing. It really does feel more enclosed, and the noise will stay in because of the shape of the new stand.
“It looks brilliant, so I would much rather the game was on.”
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Whether the City of Edinburgh Council share Levein’s optimism, however, remains to be seen.
Building standards and public safety officers spent the best part of the morning inspecting the ground and left without issuing a certificate.
They will return later this morning to inspect the work that was scheduled to go on throughout last night.
And SunSport understands the situation remains very much in the balance with 24 hours to go.
Levein, though, reckons it’s a miracle Hearts are even in this position given where they were when Budge took over three years ago.
And he told fans the new stand will be worth the wait, even with more delays.
He said: “This stand is about the long term and it’s important to remember that.
“I was there in 2004 when there was talk of leaving the stadium and going to Murrayfield and the supporters were up in arms because they wanted to stay at Tynecastle.
“Now we are not only staying at Tynecastle, but it is a new Tynecastle, with much better facilities. It’s a miracle.
“If you think about it, three years ago Ann bought the club and the Foundation of Hearts plan was to pay Ann back once the club was stabilised.
“The second plan was to build the new stand and if you look at the money we’ve spent and the things we have done over the three years, it’s just remarkable.
“Even the academy, we have over-tripled the budget there, we have started a new school at Balerno which is a hugely expensive project as well.
“So there’s been a lot of stuff which has been really positive and hopefully that will not be forgotten.”
Another reason Levein wants the game to go ahead is that his injury woes have eased over the past fortnight.
Arnaud Djoum, Aaron Hughes, Prince Buaben and Jamie Walker could all be fit to play against Alan Archibald’s Jags.
That means he won’t need to rely on the likes of Cochrane, Euan Henderson and Jamie Brandon. And with Gorgie set to host six games in a row, he is hoping his side can build up some steam.
He said: “I think getting senior players back and getting back to Tynecastle are two massive things for us.
“Aaron, Arnaud and Don Cowie have all had another week’s training under their belts.
“Connor Randall had a problem but he will be okay, Jamie is close to being ready to play and he may start.
“So I’m pleased with all of that. There will be a different look to the team in the next few weeks, although I still have an issue with left-back.
“And if we fix that then I would feel completely comfortable.
“It will be good to get back to Tynecastle — whenever that is.
“Historically we get more points at home than we get away from home.
“The new stand will make a difference as well, and the atmosphere will be amazing.
“What’s going to happen is we’re going to go back there and feel better.
“But that doesn’t guarantee we are going to win any games.”
Levein revealed he also hopes to speak to Budge in the near future about the club’s January transfer plans.
But although Niall McGinn IS on his radar, he admits he will need to get players out before anything can happen.
He said: “Niall is a name that has been mentioned. I’ll need to look at what I can do to create some headroom. There’s loads of stuff going on in the background.”
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