2011–12 Heart of Midlothian F.C. season

Overview

Hearts finished fifth in the Scottish Premier League. They reached the Play Off Round of the Europa League, the third round of the League Cup and won the Scottish Cup after a 5–1 victory over Edinburgh Derby rivals Hibernian.

Financial problems

The club began experiencing severe financial problems in November 2011 which meant they were unable to pay the players wages and the club was put up for sale. The squad's October salaries were late and the November wages were paid twenty nine days late just one day before their December salaries were due. The December pay has failed to arrive, and a complaint was lodged with the Scottish Premier League by the players union. During this period the club advised fringe players they were free to leave the club. On 4 January 2012 the SPL ordered Hearts to pay all outstanding wages by 11 January 2012 and January's wages must be paid on time on 16 January. Hearts paid all outstanding wages that day following the sale of Eggert Jónsson to Wolves. On 17 January the day after Hearts wages were due to be paid it was revealed all players had been paid. Despite this the SPL issued a statement saying Hearts had failed to pay all players on 16 January and an emergency board meeting had been called, Hearts refuted this saying payment of the remuneration had been made to all players. Hearts were charged by the SPL with failing to behave with the utmost good faith to the SPL. A hearing of the SPL Board sub-committee was held on 27 January, and the case against the club was dismissed as they believed the club were acting in good faith.

On 3 May, Hearts released their financial figures. Showing that they had made a profit of £511,000 and debt had been reduced from £36.1m to £24m. Hearts said that this had come down due to a debt restructuring plan. They also reduced operating costs by 19% to £3.63m and employment costs by 12% to £8.03m. Turnover at the club fell by £1m to £6.9m, this was mainly due to an outsourcing of retail merchandise as well as a lack of significant player sales or European competition.

Pre-season

Hearts returned for pre-season training on 22 June, before travelling to Il Ciocco in Tuscany for a week at their pre-season camp. Hearts returned to Scotland to play East Fife before travelling to Berlin to take on Ludwigsfelder and Union Berlin. Once back in Scotland they completed their pre-season taking on Cowdenbeath and Livingston before a glamour friendly at Tynecastle against Royal Antwerp, to contest for the Tynecastle 125th anniversary trophy.

Results and fixtures

Pre-season / Friendlies

Scotsman Report Sutton
Novikovas Scotsman Report Grainger
Novikovas Scotsman Report Templeton
Taouil Terodde
Ede Robertson

Scottish Premier League

Main article: 2011–12 Scottish Premier League

The fixture list for the first 33 SPL matches in the 2011–12 season was announced on 17 June. Hearts were given a tough away game to start the season against Rangers.

Lasley Sutton Webster Mair Stevenson Skácel Jelavić Jonsson Mackay Taouil
Templeton
Skácel Elliott Webster Skácel Žaliūkas Skácel Sutton Thompson Wanyama Ledley Hooper Heffernan Santana Murphy Lasley Law Gunning Hamill Santana Sandaza Skácel Keddie Little Mackay-Steven Novikovas Webster

Scottish League Cup

Main article: 2011–12 Scottish League Cup

Having qualified for the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League the previous season, Hearts entered the Scottish League Cup at the third round stage. The third round draw was held on 29 August where Hearts were paired with Scottish First Division side Ayr United. Hearts lost to Ayr United on penalties after a 1 – 1 draw after extra time. After the match Hearts asked the SFA to clarify the decision by referee Iain Brines after appearing to give the goal on three separate occasions. to disallow an Eggert Jonsson goal for handball

McKernon

Trouten
Roberts Grainger
Skácel

Scottish Cup

Main article: 2011–12 Scottish Cup, 2012 Scottish Cup Final

Hearts enter the Scottish Cup at the fourth round stage. The draw was conducted on 22 November and drew Hearts against Junior side Auchinleck Talbot. Hearts won 1–0 through a Gordon Smith goal after Fraser Mullen had a first half penalty saved. The fifth round draw took place on 9 January drawing Hearts with fellow premier league side St Johnstone, a reply of the fourth round the previous year. Hearts were held to a 1–1 draw. David Templeton scored early in the first half before St Johnstone equalised through Cillian Sheridan in the 78th minute forcing a replay. The draw was held for the quarter-finals on 6 February 2012 drawing Hearts against either Ross County or St Mirren should they beat St Johnstone in the replay. Hearts won the replay 2–1 in extra time. Murray Davidson scored for St Johnstone in the 83rd minute before Suso Santana was brought down in the box during the last minute of injury time. Jamie Hamill scored the resulting penalty to take the match to extra time, before captain Marius Žaliūkas scored in the 117th minute to win the match. St Mirren beat Ross county in their replay setting up another all Scottish Premier League tie in the quarter-finals.

Hearts were held to a 2–2 draw in the quarter-final tie with St Mirren forcing a replay. St Mirren went ahead through a Graham Carey free kick before Craig Beattie equalised. Hearts should have gone in at half time with a 2–1 lead but a further strike by Beattie was wrongly ruled off side by linesman Gary Cheyne. Rudi Skácel put Hearts in front before a Marius Žaliūkas own goal in the 84th minute levelled the tie. The draw was held for the semi-finals on 11 March 2012, drawing the winner of the replay against Celtic. In the replay Nigel Hasselbaink had the ball in the net for St Mirren in the 12-minute, however the referee had blown for a penalty for St Mirren a split second before. The resulting Graham Carey penalty was saved by Jamie MacDonald. Hearts went on win the tie 2–0, through goals from Jamie Hamill and Rudi Skácel. The victory put Hearts through to the semi-finals for the first time in 5 years.

Hearts won the semi-final 2–1. After a goalless first half the introduction of Craig Beattie at half time made Hearts more of an attacking threat. After just 70 seconds he set up Rudi Skácel to score the match's opener. Gary Hooper equalised on the 87th minute, television replays later showed that Hooper was half-a-yard offside. With the match in injury time, referee Euan Norris awarded Hearts a penalty for a handball in the Celtic box by Joe Ledley. Beattie stepped up to score the Penalty, before getting booked for taking his shirt off and his impromptu lap of honour in his celebration of the goal. Celtic had an appeal for handball turned down in the dying minutes of the game and Hearts progressed to the final.

Hibernian beat Aberdeen in their semi final, to set up the final Edinburgh Derby of the season. This is the first time the two Edinburgh clubs have met in the Scottish Cup Final since 1896.

Sheridan Žaliūkas Skácel Žaliūkas Skácel Beattie Skácel Grainger McGowan

UEFA Europa League

Main article: 2011–12 UEFA Europa League

Hearts entered the Europa League during the third qualifying round having qualified after finishing third in the SPL During season 2010–11. Hearts would have entered at the 2nd qualification round but thanks to Celtic winning the Scottish cup and gaining a higher qualification place their place went to Hearts. Hearts have been seeded for the third qualifying round. Hearts drew Paksi and travelled to Hungary, playing out a 1–1 draw. In the second leg goals from Ryan Stevenson, Andy Driver and Rudi Skácel were enough to win the tie 4–1 and progress to the play-off round with a 5–2 aggregate. Unseeded for the Play Off round Hearts drew English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur in a game dubbed by the press as a Battle of Britain fixture. In the home leg at Tynecastle, Hearts were outclassed by Spurs who won the first leg 0–5. Hearts were much improved in the second leg but weren't able to claw back the tie earning a 0 – 0 draw, making them only first team since Real Madrid to leave White Hart Lane with a clean sheet. Hearts were eliminated on aggregate.

Third qualifying round

Driver Skácel

Play-off round

Defoe Livermore Bale Lennon

First team player statistics

Captains

Disciplinary record

During the 2011–12 season, Hearts players were issued eighty-six yellow cards and four red cards. The table below shows the number of cards and type shown to each player. :Last updated 19 May 2012

Team statistics

League table

Management statistics

:Last updated 15 May 2011

Club

Management

Hearts started the season under the stewardship of Jim Jefferies but after only three games on 1 August 2011, he was removed from his post as manager by owner Vladimir Romanov. Jefferies was offered a new role at Hearts of Director of football which he turned down next day, marking his departure along with coach Billy Brown for the second time. Paulo Sérgio was appointed as the new manager the same day.

Playing kit

Hearts continue with Umbro as their kit manufacture for the 5th consecutive season, with Wonga.com replacing Ukio Bankas as sponsor having signed a two-year deal with Hearts.

Transfers

Main article: List of Scottish football transfers summer 2011, List of Scottish football transfers winter 2011–12

Hearts first transfer activity over the summer came on 25 May with the announcement that Jamie Hamill, John Sutton and Danny Grainger had all signed three-year contracts. The following day they announced the departure of three first team players, Jamie Mole, Dawid Kucharski and Paul Mulrooney. Along with six youth players who were not offered new contracts. Mehdi Taouil became Hearts fourth signing of the new season with Jonathan Brown, Rubén Palazuelos and Ismael Bouzid also leaving on freedom of contract. After featuring during pre-season and with only two days remaining before the season started Hearts accepted a bid of £1.5 Million for Lee Wallace from Rangers. Hearts had refused previous bids from Rangers for the player. That completed the transfer activity under Jim Jefferies. New manager Sergio made one transfer deal before the close of the summer transfer window with Callum Tapping joining Hearts from Tottenham.

Players in

Players out

Loans in

Loans out

References

References

1. "2011/12 Scottish Premier League Table / Table". [[ESPN]].
2. (25 August 2011). "Tottenham 0–0 Hearts Aggregate: 5–0". UEFA.
3. (21 September 2011). "Ayr 1–1 Hearts (4–1 pens)". BBC.
4. (19 May 2012). "Hearts give Hampden a high-five". [[Scottish Football Association]].
5. (2011-11-17). "Hearts admit they can't pay wages".
6. (17 November 2011). "Romanov puts Hearts up for sale". Sky Sports.
7. (15 December 2011). "Hearts stars finally get November pay but will complain to SPL if December wages don't arrive". Daily Record.
8. (December 2021). "Hearts players' pay: Delayed November wages are paid but Hearts players still ready to act". The Scotsman.
9. (20 December 2011). "Hearts squad lodge official SPL complaint over unpaid wages". Scottish Television.
10. (4 January 2012). "SPL Statement ~ Heart of Midlothian FC". Scottish Premier League.
11. Forsyth, Roddy. (4 January 2012). "Hearts pay overdue December wages thanks to Eggert Jonsson sale to Wolves". The Telegraph.
12. (17 January 2012). "Hearts captain says players have been paid Marius Zaliukas has told STV". Scottish Television.
13. (17 January 2012). "SPL Statement 2~ Heart of Midlothian FC". Scottish Premier League.
14. (17 January 2012). "Club refutes SPL claim". Heart of Midlothian F.C..
15. (17 January 2012). "SPL charges Hearts over players' wages delay". BBC.
16. (27 January 2012). "SPL Statement on Heart of Midlothian FC". [[Scottish Premier League]].
17. (27 January 2012). "Hearts cleared of charges over late payment of players' wages". Daily Record.
18. (3 May 2012). "Hearts announce large debt drop". BBC.
19. "Hearts clear favourites to land Kilmarnock star Jamie Hamill and Zander Diamond before pre-season".
20. "Hearts Heading to Tuscany".
21. (30 June 2011). "Hearts Germany-bound". Hearts FC.
22. (30 June 2011). "Royal Antwerp at Tynie". Hearts FC.
23. (18 July 2011). "Anniversary trophy". Edinburgh Evening News.
24. "Clydesdale Bank Premier League fixtures 2011/12".
25. "League cup format". SFL.
26. (29 August 2011). "Third Round Draw". Scottish Football League.
27. (21 September 2011). "Ayr United 1–1 Heart of Midlothian: Wednesday, 21 September 2011 (Ayr win 4–1 on penalties)". Scottish Football League.
28. (28 September 2011). "Hearts ask for explanation on Brines call". Edinburgh Evening News.
29. (28 September 2011). "Hearts want explanation over disallowed goal against Ayr". BBC.
30. (22 November 2011). "William Hill Scottish Cup fourth round draw". Scottish Football Association.
31. (22 November 2011). "Auchinleck Talbot face Hearts in Scottish Cup". BBC.
32. (7 January 2012). "Hearts 1– 0 Auchinleck Talbot". BBC.
33. (9 January 2012). "Rangers face Scottish Cup test against Dundee United". BBC.
34. (9 January 2012). "Hearts paired with Perth Saints". Heart of Midlothian F.C..
35. Grahame, Ewing. (5 February 2012). "Hearts 1 St Johnstone 1: match report". The Telegraph.
36. (5 February 2012). "Feisty clash ends in stalemate". Edinburgh Evening News.
37. (6 February 2012). "Dundee Utd drawn to face Scottish Cup holders Celtic". BBC.
38. (15 February 2012). "St Johnstone 1–2 Hearts: Hearts find bit extra to beat Saints". The Scotsman.
39. (15 February 2012). "St Johnstone 1 Hearts 2: Visitors come up smelling of roses on Valentine's night". The Herald.
40. (14 February 2012). "Ross County 1 Morrow 55' St Mirren". BBC.
41. (10 March 2012). "Hearts 2–2 St Mirren". BBC.
42. Murray, Ewan. (11 March 2012). "Marius Zaliukas's misfortune hurts Hearts as St Mirren earn replay". The Guardian.
43. (11 March 2012). "Scottish Cup: Hearts 2 St Mirren 2". Daily Record.
44. (21 March 2012). "Jambos secure semi with Hoops". [[Sky Sports]].
45. Forsyth, Roddy. (21 March 2012). "St Mirren 0 Hearts 2: match report". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
46. "Hearts set on Celtic semi-final". [[The Scotsman]].
47. (15 April 2012). "Celtic v 2 Heart of Midlothian". BBC.
48. (16 April 2012). "Sergio feared side's hopes of final glory had gone after Hooper's late leveller". [[The Scotsman]].
49. (16 April 2012). "Beattie brings back the celebration". [[The Guardian]].
50. (14 April 2012). "Aberdeen v Hibernian". BBC.
51. Forsyth, Roddy. (15 April 2012). "Celtic 1 Hearts 2: match report". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
52. (22 May 2011). "Scottish clubs braced for European tests". BBC.
53. "Spl League Table 2010-11".
54. Conaghan, Martin. (21 May 2011). "Celtic win Cup". BBC.
55. (30 May 2011). "Hearts seeded for Europa League Draw". BBC.
56. (15 July 2011). "Hearts draw Paksi or Tromso in Europa League third qualifying round". STV.
57. (4 August 2011). "Third qualifying round, Second leg Hearts V PAKS". UEFA.
58. (5 August 2011). "Tottenham draw Hearts in Europa League play-off round". BBC.
59. (19 August 2011). "Paulo Sergio seeks to restart Hearts following Europa League failure". Daily Record.
60. (22 August 2011). "Hearts take solace in lack of incident after humiliation". The Herald.
61. (25 August 2011). "Tottenham 0–0 Hearts (agg 5 –0)". BBC.
62. "Soccerbase Hearts Squad Stats".
63. "Soccerbase Hearts Squad Stats 2011/12".
64. (2 August 2011). ["Vladimir Romanov to reveal manager No 10 after Jim Jefferies 'removed' *.
65. (2 August 2011). "Jim leaves Hearts". Hearts FC.
66. (2 August 2011). "Jefferies rejects Hearts role as Sergio takes over". British Broadcasting Corporation.
67. (2 August 2011). "Paulo Sergio takes over as boss". BBC.
68. "Hearts scores with Wonga.com".
69. (25 May 2011). "Jamie Hamill, John Sutton & Danny Grainger join Hearts". BBC.
70. "Tynecastle Departures".
71. "Rangers New Boy". Daily Record Sport.
72. (31 August 2011). "Hearts sign Spurs youngster". Heart of Midlothian F.C..
73. (17 May 2011). "Young Rover Moves To Hearts". [[Raith Rovers F.C.]].
74. "JJ Swoops for jamie".
75. "Sutton signs up".
76. "Danny's a Jambo, too!".
77. (14 June 2011). "Mehdi Taouil leaves Kilmarnock for Hearts". BBC.
78. "Coventry Telegraph. Ogelby handed move to hearts".
79. (31 August 2011). "Hearts secure Callum Tapping from Tottenham". BBC.
80. (23 February 2012). "Hearts sign former Celtic striker Craig Beattie". BBC.
81. (19 December 2011). "El Alavés se refuerza con Rubén Palazuelos, procedente de la Liga escocesa". El Correo.
82. "Ruben Mulls over move".
83. (27 October 2011). "Blyth Spartans Sign Jamie Mole". [[Blyth Spartans A.F.C.]].
84. (29 June 2011). "Goalkeeper Lyness joins Harriers". Express and Star.
85. (9 August 2011). "acquisition of Ismael Bouzid". pasgiannina.gr.
86. "Hearts defender Bouzid to follow Palazuelos out of Tynecastle".
87. (19 June 2011). "Dawid Kucharski footballer Pogon Szczecin". [[ITI Group]].
88. (8 July 2011). "Livingston F.C.".
89. (21 July 2011). "Rangers seal deals for Lee Wallace". BBC.
90. (8 March 2012). "Nyíregyházára szerződött az egyszeres válogatott kapus". FOCI24.
91. (7 December 2011). "Janos heading home". Heart of Midlothian F.C..
92. (19 January 2012). ""Žalgiryje" – puolėjas iš Škotijos". [[VMFD Žalgiris Vilnius]].
93. (12 December 2011). "Calum exits Hearts". Heart of Midlothian F.C..
94. (21 December 2011). "Hearts midfielder Eggert Jonsson to join Wolves in January". BBC.
95. (21 December 2011). "Mick McCarthy scrambles for Eggert Jonsson signing". Shropshire Star.
96. (30 January 2012). "Ryan off to Ipswich". Heart of Midlothian F.C..
97. (31 January 2012). "Rob Wrexham-bound". Heart of Midlothian F.C..
98. (16 February 2012). "Familiar Face Returns". [[Partick Thistle F.C.]].
99. (12 March 2012). "Hearts part company with injured striker Kevin Kyle". BBC.
100. (5 April 2012). "Marian departs Hearts". Heart of Midlothian F.C..
101. (13 June 2011). "Smith, McGowan join GCU". [[Sportal]].
102. (7 July 2011). "Young Hearts players thriving at East Fife under club legend Robbo". The Scotsman sport.
103. (7 July 2011). "Dunfermline take Hearts defender Jason Thomson on loan". BBC.
104. (13 July 2011). "Balatoni loan completed". [[Partick Thistle F.C.]].
105. (15 July 2011). "Morton seals loan move". [[Cowdenbeath F.C.]].
106. (22 July 2011). "Danny Thomson from Hearts". Raith Rovers FC.
107. (22 July 2011). "Youngsters go on loan". Hearts FC.
108. (31 July 2011). "Pirmą kartą Lietuvoje rungtyniaus škotas". [[FBK Kaunas]].
109. (30 September 2011). "Hamilton returns home". [[Scottish Football League]].
110. (3 November 2011). "Midfielder Signs". [[Raith Rovers F.C.]].
111. (4 November 2011). "Hearts' Calum Elliot and Denis Prychynenko agree loan deals". BBC.
112. (21 November 2011). "Trio off on loan". Heart of Midlothian.
113. (7 December 2011). "Gordon joins Accies". Heart of Midlothian F.C..
114. (7 December 2011). "Manager adds to squad". [[Alloa Athletic F.C.]].
115. (3 February 2012). "Official: Striker Sutton set for Central Coast". [[Central Coast Mariners FC]].
116. (2 March 2012). "Loan deals for duo". Heart of Midlothian F.C..
117. (2 March 2012). "McGlynn Strengthens Squad". [[Raith Rovers F.C.]].
118. [http://www.fksuduva.lt/index.php/naujienos/naujienu-archyvas/789-sduv-papild-kotas „Sūduvą“ papildė škotas] {{webarchive. link. (13 March 2012)
119. (13 March 2012). "Hearts' Craig Thomson returns to Lithuania". STV.