Steven Naismith has picked up the Scottish Championship trophy despite calls for a boycott on 25th April 2021. The Hearts of Midlothian skipper did that knowing the consequences and insisted on doing the act as a symbol of respect to the game of football.
The calls for a boycott came from the fans of those teams relegated from the Scottish Championship. As a sign of respect for the cup and the honor it signifies, Naismith picked it up. But at the same time he understood the fury of the fans.
In an interview on 23rd April 2021, a Hearts FC statement said, “The views of the supporters of the relegated sides are justified.”
Hearts captain Steven Naismith will lift the Scottish Championship trophy as an "act of respect".
— Sky Sports (@SkySports) April 24, 2021
“But, we have to recognize all our backroom staffs and players who worked hard to help us win the cup. For them we must humbly accept the trophy in light of the boycott plea” said the statement.
Steven Naismith a former Everton player, has only played for three years with the Midlothian side. Yet he understands the importance of winning a trophy for a football club.
The trophy presentation came after Heart FC’s game against Inverness CT at the Tynecastke Stadium on April 25th 2021. Following the win, the Ayr, Greenrock Morton FC and Alloa Athletic got relegated. Thus the Scottish Championship season came to a satisfying conclusion.
Naismith had the pleasure of lifting the trophy. But otherwise his presence for the Jambo has been non-existent in the 2020/21 season, due to an injury sustained earlier on in the year 2020.
Furthermore, Naismith’s on the verge of leaving Heart FC after being deemed surplus to the needs of the Scottish side.
Steven Naismith set to leave Heart FC at the end of the current season
Hearts’ Steven Naismith with the match ball (Photo by Paul Devlin/SNS Group via Getty Images)
The Scotsman has been handed the pink slip from the Midlothian side and the skipper can be replaced. Coincidentally after his move from Norwich to Heart FC, Naismith replaced the former skipper Christophe Berra.
Therefore, the cup he has lifted with Jambo could be his last for the Midlothian side.
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