No love lost between Saints fans and turncoat Harte

Feb 13 2009 by David Rinaldi, Paisley Daily Express

IT may be Valentine’s Day tomorrow – but fans on Buddie Banter won’t be sending any love to former St Mirren signing target Ian Harte.

A week has now passed since turncoat Harte changed his mind about moving to Saints.

However, it is clear that the Paisley faithful have been left deeply hurt by the former Leeds United ace’s decision to snub the Buddies and it will take some time for those wounds to heal.

There is absolutely no love lost between the Saints fans and Harte after the will-he-won’t-he move to Greenhill Road collapsed last Friday.

Paisley man Daniel Roberts is among those who got in touch to say he is ‘Harte-broken’ by the way the Irish full-back has behaved.

Daniel, who hails from the town’s West End, was clearly fuming when he battered out his e-mail to Buddie Banter.

He hit out: “Who does Ian Harte think he is? It looks like he was using us as leverage to try to engineer a move to Celtic?

“Harte has chickened out of coming to us. Hell mend him. He won’t be missed.”

Robert Tamburini, of Paisley, was equally angry over the whole affair.

He said: “The collapse of the Harte transfer made us a laughing stock but the joke will be on him because no-one’s going to touch him with a bargepole after this.

“If he thinks he can mess around an established SPL club like St Mirren, he’s got another thing coming.

“His reputation has been damaged and we’ll no doubt move on and get a right good player in the summer who is fit to wear the black and white jersey.”

‘SuperSaint’ was equally furious at the Irishman’s U-turn and reckons his behaviour is symptomatic of the growing arrogance among players south of the border.

He raged: “Harte is just another pampered Premiership player. He has made his money and now he’s done but, instead of just calling it a day, he’ll no doubt try to wriggle a few bob out of some other club.

“When I first heard he was coming, I thought he would be a good signing but, after finding out about his attitude, I’m glad the deal fell through.

“He’s hardly set the heather on fire in the last few years, so for him to treat people who were willing to give him the chance to help get his career back on track with such disdain is despicable.

“Players like him are killing this game and it’s about time something was done to give football back to the people.

“Half of today’s players have no idea how much money, time and effort it takes to follow a team. They think they’re head and shoulders above us normal punters but we’re the ones who pay their wages.”

Scott Crawford, of Dykebar, Paisley, is also keen to show Harte the red card.

He said: “I still can’t believe the gall of Ian Harte. He seemed happy enough to be coming to Paisley but then pulled out of the move at the 11th hour.

“We desperately need cover at left-back, with Franco Miranda out injured, and Harte looked like the perfect replacement but he has mucked the club about.”

Harte isn’t the only subject of St Mirren supporters’ wrath this week.

Fans have also had a pop at SPL rivals Motherwell over the state of their Fir Park pitch for last Saturday’s Scottish Cup clash.

‘Bud-wiser’, of Ralston, Paisley, e-mailed to say: “Motherwell’s pitch was a disgrace. I wouldn’t let a schools football match be played on that surface, let along an important Scottish Cup tie.

“The powers-that-be should look at taking tough action against clubs who fail to keep their pitches in decent condition.

“I travelled through to Easter Road last month for the SPL match against Hibernian and their pitch was appalling too.”

Finally, Hearts aren’t flavour of the month with Buddies following their decision to snub St Mirren’s request to put their SPL clash at Tynecastle back by 24 hours.

The Buddies will now have to play their cup replay against Motherwell on Thursday night before facing the Jambos less than 48 hours later.

Paisley man Kevin Thornton called to say: “I can’t believe how selfish Hearts are being. I reckon they’re hoping the St Mirren players will be knackered by the time they go to Tynecastle so that it’s easier for them to win the game.

“I’d love it if we could get all three points through there on February 21. That would be justice, considering the way Hearts have behaved.”

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