The league leaders will run the gauntlet after the split in a bid to bring the Premiership title to Gorgie
(Image: SNS Group)
Simon Donnelly has revealed a Hearts insider has informed him the club are “not too happy” about their post-split clash with Rangers.
The SPFL’s reveal of the final run-in raised eyebrows on Tuesday when the Jambos learned that they will have to go to Celtic Park for this year’s Premiership finale while second-placed Rangers head to Falkirk.
However, with Hearts holding a one point advantage over the Light Blues it is the showdown with Danny Rohl’s side that has irked first-team coach Alan Archibald, according to former Celtic hero Donnelly.
The blockbuster clash will take place at Tynecastle on Monday, May 4 with a 5.30pm kick-off time. The game is to be broadcast by Sky Sports.
Speaking to Clyde 1 Superscoreboard, Donnelly revealed the bizarre chance meeting with his former Partick Thistle ally and Derek McInnes’ lieutenant Archibald.
He said: “I was coming back from Edinburgh yesterday, and there was a bit of traffic on the M8. I veered off at Whitburn, but before I did that the Hearts‘ coach Alan Archibald pulled up beside me.
“We were obviously together at Partick [Thistle]. To say he is not too happy about that Monday night kick off would be an understatement.
Hearts’ Coach Alan Archibald (C) with the team(Image: SNS Group)
“The windows were down and the traffic came to a standstill, and I have spotted him and shouted over and exchanged a couple of words, and he brought up that Monday night fixture.”
Publicly, boss McInnes was more understanding of the “unusual” kick-off times.
He said earlier this week: “The fixtures were actually what we were expecting.
“We’d kind of anticipated that. I don’t know if we’d get a heads up a couple of weeks before that maybe that is what it’s going to look a bit like.
“So when it came through, it was no real surprise. Obviously, the kick-off times are a bit unusual at times.
“It’s not great for the fans that they don’t get Saturday at three o’clock, but having three away games, it was probably difficult to fit everything in.”
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