[retired_michman524]

YAS, Quality game to start the season.

Kingston has signed for us and Hleb is set to follow in the next few weeks. Stracanovich and Mendy are still expected to join us before the season whilst a few of the Kaunas loans are to be terminated.

Pretty confident about the coming season for some reason but we'll need to get off to a decent start as we have Hibs, Aberdeen, Rangers and Celtic in our first 6 games.

Will do a more indepth post later with expectations and stuff. Just wanted to get it up with the opening game being announced

[retired_ranjanabhat]

Hibs - who are they?

I see our first game is against Celtic's reserves. Considering we done quite well against their first team last term, I don't foresee many problems against their reserves.

Always nice to get 3 points in the bag from the off :thup:

[retired_michman524]

We should be able to pick up almost maximum points in the 2nd half but that might just be to catch up on other teams unless we get a decent start. We need to be aiming to take 12 points from the first 5 and at least giving Rangers a game when we're at home.

[retired_matt4787]

I'm on f****** holiday! Why is the best game of the season always the one when im on holiday?

[retired_ranjanabhat]

JULIEN BRELLIER never seemed entirely comfortable with his treatment at Hearts, but the depth of his frustration with the club hierarchy has not been properly revealed until now.

Not only does Brellier find Alex Koslovski, a director of sport at Tynecastle, "arrogant", he would willingly have joined Steven Pressley, Paul Hartley and Craig Gordon in their infamous media address last October, so strong are his feelings against the management methods.

Furthermore, the Frenchman considers his last contract offer "a joke" and believes Vladimir Romanov, pictured below right, must stop being a dictator if Hearts are to thrive in the future. Brellier, who is interesting Rangers manager Walter Smith, took time out from a family holiday in Thailand to speak exclusively to the Evening News about his two-year stay in Gorgie and offered some scathing analysis of those in power.

He left Scotland a month ago having been released early from his contract. Despite achieving cult-hero status with Hearts supporters, he never found favour with Romanov and was often excluded from the team when his influence was badly needed. The selection policy, influenced by the club owner, was one of several issues which caused Pressley, Hartley and Gordon to hijack a weekly press conference last autumn and declare significant unrest amongst the players.

However, it seems the trio now known as the Riccarton Three could easily have been the Riccarton Four. "I was 100 per cent behind them. I didn't know they were going to do it but, if they wanted me, I would have stood beside them to make that statement," said Brellier. "They were right in what they said and they did the right thing. After that, a lot of things changed.

"We lost two very important players, one of them who was the most important figure at the club [Pressley]. I think Craig suffered too. It affected him a little and wasn't good for him. The way Hearts treat a lot of players and manage the club is not good. Mr Romanov wasn't even there a lot last season, maybe only three or four times. He is the president so he's very important at the club. He pays all the players so they must do what he wants, but he must not be a dictator."

Brellier recalls the anger on the day of the mutiny at Riccarton, when Romanov attempted to flex his muscles even further by threatening to sell the entire Hearts squad if they failed to beat Dunfermline the following afternoon.

"That wasn't good for the players to hear. It just made us angry and we didn't beat Dunfermline. He didn't say that to all the players but I don't think it was a joke. He could sell everyone if he wanted so he can say what he wants, but players are not slaves."

Tales of Romanov's lack of appreciation for Brellier were commonplace at Riccarton, but the arrival of the unknown Russian Koslovski last year in a position of relative power made life intolerable for the midfielder. Rather than meet his player to discuss any grievances or contract offers, Romanov left it to Koslovski.

"Maybe some people would say Alex is nice. I wouldn't. He's just strange," continued the Frenchman. "I don't think he's bad, but strange. I don't think there are a lot of people who would say he's nice. Arrogant is the best word for him, I think. When we spoke about my contract he was very arrogant and I didn't like it."

Brellier was keen to extend his existing deal for another year but was refused parity with established first-team colleagues who earned £7000-£8000 a week. "Alex said to me I wasn't worth more money. He told me that at the beginning of the season after the Celtic game, then two weeks later he came back to tell me something else. One day he says one thing and the next day he says another thing.

"After our second meeting I said I wanted to stop talking with him. My first agent [Maurizio de Giorgis] was dealing with the contract and he said the same about him. That was in January. They [club management] didn't do anything to make me feel terrible. I'm very quiet, I just stay on my own. I didn't want to speak with them and they didn't want to speak with me, and that's how it went from then on.

"When I left, Anatoli Korobochka said publicly that Hearts offered me a good contract. That's a joke. I know the offer they made and to be honest it was a joke as well. When a player doesn't feel the confidence of the man who runs the club, he cannot sign. It was not about money, it was just about respect and the way the club is running. I don't like it and I don't want to be involved with them.

"When Eduard Malofeev was in charge I didn't like the way we were training. Last season was totally different to the one before and I only saw it getting worse and worse. I hope for the players and fans I am wrong."

Resigned to leaving Hearts at the end of the season, Brellier was granted a brief reprieve during the closing weeks of the campaign as the side challenged Aberdeen for a coveted UEFA Cup place. Having appeared only twice since New Year, he formed a midfield partnership with Larry Kingston and played in potentially-vital victories over Hibs, Kilmarnock and Celtic.

Then, after the 1-1 draw with Aberdeen at Tynecastle, Brellier spoke to the Evening News to reveal some of the reasons behind his imminent exit. He never wore a maroon shirt again.

"I was aware they might not play me after that. If it was because of that interview then the politics of the club are not good," he said. "I told them in January I didn't want to sign because I thought they were being very arrogant during the contract talks. I said: 'Enough is enough, I will not sign.' They knew for so long so I don't think my last interview should have changed much. To be honest, I was surprised to play the games I did play during the last few weeks.

"My last two weeks at the club were very difficult. I was very disappointed. When I came back into the team against Hibs, I felt they needed me because the team was a bit light. Then, after some good results, they took me out the team again. They treated me badly for too long and I just had enough. I didn't want to go forward any more."

Frenchman calm over Rangers interest
JULIEN BRELLIER has confirmed that Rangers manager Walter Smith is interested in luring him to Ibrox in time for next season.

The former Hearts midfielder believes a deal to secure his instant return to Scotland is "possible," although he will explore other options before reaching a final decision on his future. Jean-Marie Cantona, Brellier's representative, was approached by Rangers last week and the player is receptive to the interest from Glasgow after leaving Tynecastle as a free agent.

"My agent has spoken with Rangers so it is possible," he said. "I have some good opportunities but I want to take my time to make the right decision.

"I told my agent I will not speak about my future until the end of my holiday this week. For the last two weeks I have just tried to relax."

Brellier has several offers from France to consider, some from high-ranking Ligue 1 clubs, and has also attracted attention from England.

The EEN tries to make it sound somewhat earth shattering, but there's nothing in there that hasn't been said before. We know already knew that Vlad treats some players with utter contempt.

[retired_kkaigle]

£8,000 a ****ing week? **** me.

[retired_ranjanabhat]

For any club out with the OF to be paying those sort of wages is just absurd. That's why I get the feeling Romanov will punt Gordon sooner rather than later. As awesome as Gordon is, I don't think he's in our long term plans simply because Romanov (or more to the point Hearts) can't sustain keeping players on those type of wages without some sort of profit being made after one or two seasons.

I see Romonov's thinking behind it though, as it will have a knock on affect with regard to any future transfer fee.

[retired_bernadette downing]

from the Herald online:

Hearts last night defended a 30% rise in ticket prices that will be imposed on supporters of the Old Firm and Hibernian at Tynecastle next season.

Fans of Celtic, Rangers and Hibs will have to part with £33 to watch their team in the centre of the upper section of the Roseburn Stand, a jump of £8 from the last campaign.

Supporters in the other areas of the stand will be charged £27, an increase of £7 on last season, for Category A' matches. Opposing fans outside the Old Firm and Hibs will pay between £17 and £22 for Category B' games in the Roseburn Stand.

Hibs fans have reacted with disbelief to the price increase, claiming Vladimir Romanov, the Hearts owner, is merely lining his pockets. But the club have defended the price hike in light of the planned redevelopment of the Tynecastle main stand in the coming campaign.

"We reviewed the pricing of match-day tickets at some length prior to any increases," said a Hearts spokesman.

"It's really all about supply and demand and we have to be commercially aware. Demand for tickets for Hearts versus Hibs at Tynecastle outstrips supply."

Hibs travel to Tynecastle on the opening day of the season and Dave Kowalski, a spokesman for fans website Hibs.net, said yesterday: "Thirty-three pounds is an outrageous price. I've not heard about an organised Hibs boycott, but if there was one, Hearts would deserve to lose money."

Here's hoping the Hibees boycott Tynecastle. An absolute scandal that Hearts have decided to rip off Rangers, Celtic and Hibs fans in order to pay for their new main stand.

[retired_ranjanabhat]

That's rich coming from Hibs fans. Their club have done the exact same with us over the last few seasons. Here's hoping they do boycott the game, as it will mean a smaller allocation for them and more for us. :thup:

[retired_ranjanabhat]

I forgot to add - before you act like a complete tit Ginger, as per usual, I'd like to point out that your own club has also hiked up prices when we've visited Ibrox in the past. So away and spit your dummy out elsewhere ya tube.