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Hearts to lift Championship trophy without "fanfare"

Hearts to lift Championship trophy without
© Reuters
Fans had called for the club to boycott the trophy presentation in protest at last season's relegation.

Hearts will lift the Scottish Championship trophy with no "fanfare" or party.

The club faced a dilemma after a number of fans campaigned for them to boycott the trophy presentation in protest at their relegation with eight games remaining last season.

However, their skipper will collect the silverware on Saturday after their final home match against Inverness.

A club statement read: "We understand the views of some supporters that we should not lift the trophy on Saturday.

"However, our players and backroom staff deserve to be recognised as the group that took the club straight back out of, notoriously, the most difficult league in Scotland to win promotion from, in the most challenging circumstances imaginable.

"At full time the first team will collect their winners' medals and our captain, Steven Naismith, will lift the trophy – respectfully and to honour the players' achievement – before returning to the dressing room.

"There will be no fanfare, there will be no passing around of the trophy and there will be no party on the pitch, given the absence of our fans.

"This act will be an act of respect. Respect to our players for the 'hard yards' they put in over the course of the season, respect to our opponents who would love to be in our position and respect to the fans who continue to back the club in an unprecedented fashion.

"We will always conduct ourselves in a manner befitting this great club. We will always do the right thing, no matter the circumstances. We are Always Hearts."

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Hearts manager Robbie Neilson pictured on October 31, 2020
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic220085275884
2RangersRangers220078255381
3Hearts20114637963
4Kilmarnock20114438652
5St Mirren21014246-446
6Dundee20024659-1341
Relegation Group
1Hibernian21014854-642
2Aberdeen22003749-1241
3Motherwell21015053-340
4Ross County21013459-2533
5St Johnstone20022550-2531
RLivingston21012563-3821
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
RLivingston3339212259-3718


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