To say it’s been a tough few weeks for Hearts fans is a little bit of an understatement.
Losing out on the final day at Celtic Park certainly took its toll, but the news that captain and top goalscorer Shankland is leaving for Rangers is a hammer blow after what – by and large – was a season to remember.
Four years ago, Shankland was part of the Beerschot team that had just been relegated to the second tier of Belgian football. He scored five goals in 26 appearances there before Hearts gave him a lifeline back into Scottish football.
Since arriving in Gorgie, the 30-year-old has scored more than 90 goals and has found his way into the Scotland squad for the World Cup, scoring in the decisive win over Denmark.
So there is no doubt Hearts have been good for Shankland and, similarly, he has been excellent for the club.
The manner of his departure will leave a sour taste, however. When he signed a three-year deal last summer, there was no indication of a clause that allowed him to join one of Hearts’ biggest rivals for free.
Questions will be asked – and rightly so – about how and why that was agreed.
Players come and players go and, when Shankland returns to Tynecastle, it will be interesting to both see and hear the reaction from the same support who sang his name so loudly and proudly week after week.
The hole he leaves in the Tynecastle dressing room is huge. Indeed, when you add the potential departures of Cammy Devlin, Frankie Kent and Craig Gordon – alongside the loss of Craig Halkett in a playing capacity through injury for much of this year – a lot of stature and leadership will be absent.
It’s now up to everyone involved in recruitment at Hearts to ensure there are replacements ready.
Champions League qualifiers will come quickly in July. It may be a time for rest, but for those behind the scenes at Hearts, it’s likely to be a very busy summer.
