Hearts manager Jim Jefferies has predicted further twists in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title race as his side prepare to face Rangers and Celtic in successive games.
Celtic lost at Inverness on Wednesday night to relinquish the title initiative to their Old Firm rivals, but Jefferies knows his Hearts side could have a say in the destination of the SPL trophy, with a trip to Ibrox on Saturday followed next Wednesday by the Bhoys visiting Tynecastle.
Hearts have their own agenda too and are seeking to claim third place in the table ahead of Dundee United, a side they meet in the final game of the season on May 15. Jefferies said: "It will be interesting."
He added: "The Old Firm managers themselves said after the last Old Firm game (the 0-0 draw on April 24) that there will be still some twists and turns - we saw one last night and hopefully we can be included in those twists and turns.
"If we do get a result on Saturday I hope we can match it on Wednesday or there will be all these conspiracy theories. We can assure both clubs - and if it goes to Dundee United - that we'll be trying hard to get as many points as we can. We'll be making it as difficult for them both as possible."
Jefferies and Rangers boss Walter Smith are long-standing friends, but the Hearts manager insists there will be no favours. While praising Celtic manager Neil Lennon's efforts in his first full season in charge, the Hearts boss believes if Smith can lift the SPL title in his final season at Ibrox it would be one of his greatest success, finances and the prospect of a takeover having stretched resources at Rangers.
Jefferies said: "They've done tremendously well to hang on in there and it would be one of his better achievements considering what he has had to contend with since the turn of the year."
Jefferies expects Smith to miss football if he opts to retire rather than continue in the game away from Scotland. He added: "Hopefully now he's retiring I'll get that game of golf he promised me 15 years ago - I'm still waiting."
Hearts are 21 points behind leaders Rangers entering this weekend's fixtures, but Jefferies believes it might have been different had injuries to key players - Kevin Kyle in particular - and suspensions not stalled his side's progress.
"If we hadn't had the injuries to the key players, we wouldn't be talking about third place now - there was a good optimism that we could challenge," he added. "We got close and it was at the time we lost these players that it fell away. I'm sure we would've clinched it (third place) long before now and been a lot closer to them (the Old Firm). I'm not saying we would've split them or won it, but we would've been a lot closer."
Source: PA
