Derek McInnes has admitted he feels racked with guilt after leaving Hearts for Rangers this summer, and expects a hostile reception when he returns to Tynecastle with his Ibrox side.
The former Jambos boss will travel to Gorgie for the first time since quitting the capital club to join the team he grew up supporting. He knows he faces a rough ride from supporters who once idolised him after he led them to within minutes of a remarkable title triumph before a late Celtic surge on the final day of the season.
Understanding the fans' fury
Asked if he could sympathise with the furious Hearts faithful, McInnes said: "I totally understand it. I loved my time at Hearts. I need to say that. It was only a short time, but I thought my Hearts team were a breath of fresh air for Scottish football last season."
He added: "I really enjoyed what we managed to achieve. It showed what could be done despite not having the huge financial muscle of Rangers and Celtic to compete with, and I was proud of what we did there. Taking a team who finished in the bottom six and getting to 80 points, we just felt a real injustice at the end of it all."
Guilt over departure
McInnes revealed he felt guilty about his decision to leave, comparing it to the earlier departure of Lawrence Shankland, who had already quit Hearts to join Rangers after triggering an option in his contract to leave on a free transfer.
He said: "I felt guilty about the decision over whether I stayed or left. I had felt something similar a couple of weeks earlier with Lawrence Shankland. I was golfing with Graeme Jones and talking about the season, the plans for the next season and having a post-mortem of everything when we got the call that Lawrence wanted to go to Rangers."
McInnes concluded: "I remember how I felt then. I felt a bit let down and flat about the whole thing. For me to make a similar move a couple of weeks later, I understood that. I totally get it if the treatment I receive tomorrow is what it is. You could say that maybe I deserve it, but nothing will change how I feel about my time at Hearts."
