2020–21 Heart of Midlothian F.C. season

The 2020–21 season is the 124th season of competitive football by Heart of Midlothian (Hearts), with the team participating in the Scottish Championship. It is the club's first season of play in the second tier of Scottish football since 2015, and only the second since 1983, having been relegated from the Scottish Premiership,[2] after the previous season was ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland.[3] Hearts had reached the semi-finals of the 2019–20 Scottish Cup before the coronavirus pandemic stopped all football activity in Scotland during the previous season. Their semi-final against Hibs, which was originally due to be played in April, was rescheduled to take place this season.[4]

Heart of Midlothian

2020–21 season
Chairman	Ann Budge
Manager	Robbie Neilson[1]
Stadium	Tynecastle Park
Home colours Away colours Third colours

They will also compete in this seasons Challenge Cup, Scottish League Cup and the Scottish Cup.

Results and fixtures

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Championship

Main article: 2020–21 Scottish Championship

Due to COVID-19 restrictions in Scotland forcing an October start to the Scottish Championship season,[5] the length of the league was reduced from thirty-six to twenty-seven games.[6] The fixture list for the truncated Championship was announced on 29 July,[7] starting with a home game against Dundee.

Heart of Midlothian v Dundee

17 October 2020 Scottish Championship	Heart of Midlothian	–	Dundee	Tynecastle Park
15:00

First team player statistics

Squad information

Number	Position	Nation	Name	Totals		Championship		Challenge Cup		League Cup		Scottish Cup
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
—	GK		Colin Doyle	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	GK		Craig Gordon	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	GK		Ross Stewart	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	GK		Zdenek Zlamal	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	DF		Christophe Berra	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	DF		Ben Garuccio	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	DF		Craig Halkett	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	DF		Peter Haring	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	DF		Aaron Hickey	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	DF		John Souttar	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	DF		Michael Smith	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	DF		Aidy White	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	MF		Jamie Brandon	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	MF		Harry Cochrane	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	MF		Loïc Damour	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	MF		Andy Irving	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	FW		Anthony McDonald	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	MF		Lewis Moore	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	MF		Jamie Walker	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	FW		Liam Boyce	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	FW		Euan Henderson	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	FW		Uche Ikpeazu	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	FW		Steven Naismith	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	FW		Jordan Roberts	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	FW		Craig Wighton	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0

• Last updated: 11 March 2020
• Source:Match Reports[8][9]
• Ordered by Squad Number.

Appearances (starts and substitute appearances) and goals include those in the Scottish Championship, Challenge Cup, League Cup and the Scottish Cup.

Team statistics

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion, qualification or relegation
5	Dunfermline Athletic	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
6	Greenock Morton	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
7	Heart of Midlothian	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
8	Inverness Caledonian Thistle	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
9	Queen of the South	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Qualification for the Championship play-offs

First match(es) will be played on 17 October 2020. Source: SPFL
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-to head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Play-off (only for deciding promotion, play-off participation and relegation).[10]

Club

Staff

Club staff Name Role Robbie Neilson Manager[11] Gordon Forrest Lee McCulloch First Team Assistant Manager[12] Karen Gibson Club Medic[11]

Boardroom Name Role[13] Ann Budge Executive chairwoman[13] Jacqui Duncan Finance Director[13] Stuart Wallace Foundation of Hearts Chairman[13] Eric Hogg Non-Executive Director[13] Donald Cumming Non-Executive Director[13] Kevin Windram Non-Executive Director[13]

Management

Following football being suspended indefinitely during the previous season due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[14] Manager Daniel Stendel advised the club he would not take any wages during the closed period and returned to Germany.[15] Stendel's contract included a clause which rendered him a free agent should the club be relegated.[16]

Following the vote to end the 2019–20 season and Hearts being relegated on an average points basis,[17] Stendel's contract was ended, rendering him a Free Agent.[18] Despite Stendel indicating he wished to negotiate a new contract,[18] on 21 June 2020, Hearts appointed Dundee United Manager Robbie Neilson,[19] He had previously managed Hearts between 2014 and 2016[20] and was awarded a three-year contract.[1] Stendel's assistants Jorg Sievers and Dale Tonge also departed the club.[21] On 12 August 2020, Neilson's former United assistants Gordon Forrest and Lee McCulloch were appointed as First Team Assistant Managers. They joined on a three year deal.[22]

Transfers

Players in Player From Fee Craig Gordon Celtic Free[23] Jordan Roberts Ipswich Town Free[24]

Players out Player To Fee Clevid Dikamona Kilmarnock[25] Free[26] Donis Avdijaj Free[26] Daniel Baur Spartans[27] Free[26] Oliver Bozanic Free[26] Rory Currie Free[26] Marcel Langer Free[26] Steven MacLean Retired[26][28] Kelby Mason Edinburgh City[29] Free[26] Alex Petkov Free[26] Dean Ritchie Airdrieonians[30] Free[26] Jay Nwanze Free Brodie Strang Free[26] Bobby Burns Barrow Free[31] Sean Clare Oxford United Undisclosed[32] Callumn Morrison Falkirk Free[33] Conor Washington Charlton Athletic Undisclosed[34]

Loans in Player From Fee Ross Stewart Livingston Loan[35]

Loans out Player From Fee Colin Doyle Kilmarnock Loan[36]

See also

• List of Heart of Midlothian F.C. seasons

Notes

References

1. "Hearts name Dundee Utd boss to replace Daniel Stendel". bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. 21 June 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
2. "Hearts & Partick Thistle relegations confirmed by arbitration panel". bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. 28 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
3. "Celtic champions & Hearts relegated after SPFL ends season". bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
4. "Scottish Cup: 2019-20 final scheduled for 20 December". bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. 21 July 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
5. "Scottish Championship clubs approve 27-game season starting in October". bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. 15 June 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
6. "Championship clubs vote in favour of 27-game season for 2020/21 campaign". heraldscotland.com. The Herald. 14 June 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
7. "Scottish Championship, League 1 & League 2 fixtures announced". bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. 29 July 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
8. "Soccerbase Hearts Squad Stats 2020/21". Retrieved 31 July 2020.
9. "First Team". heartsfc.co.uk/. Heart of Midlothian F.C. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
10. "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF). SPFL. pp. 38–39. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
11. "Coaching Staff". heartsfc.co.uk. Heart of Midlothian F.C. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
12. "First Team Assistant Managers Appointed". heartsfc.co.uk. Heart of Midlothian F.C. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
13. "Meet the Board". heartsfc.co.uk. Heart of Midlothian F.C. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
14. "Coronavirus joint response group update". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
15. "Daniel Stendel tells Hearts to use his wages to pay other staff - but German free to leave if club relegated". edinburghnews.scotsman.com. Edinburgh Evening News. 20 March 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
16. "Daniel Stendel makes Hearts contract revelation as German reveals relegation agreement". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 31 March 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
17. "Celtic champions & Hearts relegated after SPFL ends season". bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
18. "Hearts manager Daniel Stendel willing to adapt to 27-game Championship campaign if he returned". edinburghnews.scotsman.com. Edinburgh Evening News. 18 June 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
19. "Robbie Returns". heartsfc.co.uk. Heart of Midlothian F.C. 21 June 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
20. "MK Dons set to appoint Hearts head coach". bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. 30 November 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
21. "An Update From Ann". heartsfc.co.uk. Heart of Midlothian F.C. 22 June 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
22. "Lee McCulloch & Gordon Forrest join Robbie Neilson's staff". bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
23. "Craig Gordon: Hearts 'project' appealed to goalkeeper after Celtic exit". BBC Sport. BBC. 29 June 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
24. "Jordan Roberts: Hearts sign former Ipswich Town winger with 'great CV'". BBC Sport. BBC. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
25. "Clevid Dikamona joins Killie on one-year deal". kilmarnockfc.co.uk. Kilmarnock FC. 6 August 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
26. "Hearts: Craig Levein, Austin MacPhee & 15 players leave Tynecastle". bbc.com/sport. BBC Sport. 1 June 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
27. "Spartans sign Scotland youth interntionalist Daniel Baur from Hearts - one of three new faces". edinburghnews.scotsman.com. Edinburgh Evening News. 1 June 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
28. "Ex-Hearts striker Steven MacLean set for St Johnstone return". scotsman.com. The Scotsman. 4 August 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
29. "Former Hearts goalkeeper completes move to Edinburgh City". edinburghnews.scotsman.com. Edinburgh Evening News. 13 July 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
30. "Airdrieonians snap up Hearts youngster for League One campaign". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
31. "Bobby Burns: Barrow sign young defender from Hearts for new League Two season". bbc.com/sport. BBC Sport. 4 August 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
32. "Sean Clare: Oxford United sign versatile Hearts man for undisclosed fee". bbc.com/sport. BBC Sport. 6 August 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
33. "Morrison moves on". heartsfc.co.uk. Heart of Midlothian FC. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
34. "Charlton Athletic: Midfielder Alex Gilbey & striker Conor Washington join for undisclosed fees". BBC Sport. BBC. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
35. "Hearts sign Ross Stewart in quick-fire deal as Robbie Neilson reinforces his squad". Edinburgh Evening News. edinburghnews.scotsman.com. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
36. "Colin Doyle: Kilmarnock sign Hearts goalkeeper on loan until January". BBC Sport. BBC. 11 August 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2020.