The route for a possible Hearts’ title parade on Sunday has been published ahead of the Jambos’ all-or-nothing title decider at Parkhead, with significant disruption expected in Gorgie.
In a poetic twist to a fairytale season for the Jam Tarts, they will have to face down the imposing Celtic Park faithful and avoid defeat in probably the trickiest away fixture in the calendar on Saturday.
Hearts will be buoyed by the fact that they have not lost to Celtic in three encounters so far this season, winning two and drawing one. They even beat Celtic 2-1 at Parkhead in December.
Preparations have, however, already been made for Hearts’ parade through the city on Sunday – should they be successful.
The parade would kick off from the City Chambers and progress through Princes Street, the West End, Haymarket, Dalry, and conclude at Tynecastle.
The city’s transport team plan to close Gorgie Road between Robertson Avenue and Ardmillan Terrace between 9am and 8pm on Sunday, and Dalry Road, Morrison Street, Shandwick Place, Princes Street, the Mound, and George IV Bridge between 2pm and 7pm.
Bus diversions will be in place for the duration of the closures to “mitigate against disruption”, but major delays are still anticipated.
In addition, eight tram stops will be entirely closed: St Andrew Square, Princes Street, West End, Haymarket, Murrayfield, Balgreen, Saughton, and Bankhead. Full service will not resume until 18 May, but trams will run at either end of the line.
Trams will only run between Picardy Place and Newhaven and Edinburgh Airport and Edinburgh Park Station.
Tram tickets to and from the airport will be accepted on Airlink (for the city centre), service 17 (for Leith), and service 18 (for the south of the city).
These changes are all, however, contingent on Hearts avoiding defeat at Celtic Park – a daunting task considering Celtic’s formidable all-time home record and intimidating home support.
The bus and tram app will not be able to reflect changes to routes and closures, because of the short notice period given and the changeable nature of the closures.
The City of Edinburgh Council, which is coordinating the closures and changes with Edinburgh Trams and Lothian Buses, have not hidden where their allegiances lie, and have wished Hearts well in their historic bid to wrest the title away from Glasgow for the first time in 41 years.
The Rt Hon Lord Provost, Robert Aldridge, said: “On behalf of the city, I want to wish Heart of Midlothian the very best of luck against Celtic on Saturday.
“It really is incredible that it’s come down to this final showdown between the top two. Hearts have had such a great season, bringing so much joy, excitement and inspiration to their fans and to the wider community.
“They really have been the ‘talk of the toon’ and you can literally feel the buzz in and around Gorgie.
“Should they go on to win the title, it would be huge moment for the club and for the city. Not only would it be their first league triumph since 1960, they would also be the first club outside the Old Firm to do so for over 40 years.
“How wonderful it would be if the team ending that run and bringing the trophy home was an Edinburgh club. Go on the Jam Tarts!”
There will be vanishingly few Hearts fans still alive who can remember their title triumph of 1960, so Hearts’ position here is essentially unprecedented for most people connected to the club.
Triumph for Derek McInnes’ men on Saturday would also mark the first time that any club outside of Celtic or Rangers won the league since a young Alex Ferguson led Aberdeen to the title in 1985. Hearts missed out on the title on goal difference to Celtic in 1986.
Hearts had looked set to open a commanding three-point lead over Celtic midweek after beating Falkirk 3-0, with Celtic being held to a draw away to Motherwell. A late VAR intervention after a handball by Motherwell’s Sam Nicholson in the box, however, meant that Celtic were awarded a penalty.
Striker Kelechi Iheanacho converted from the spot to send Celtic within a point of Hearts and tee up a tantalising final day on Saturday.
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