IAN Cathro last night insisted he didn’t feel under increased pressure despite being subjected to abuse from Hearts supporters as the Tynecastle club was knocked out of the Betfred Cup.
Cathro’s side, beaten 2-1 by part-time Peterhead in midweek, cold only draw 2-2 with Championship rivals Dunfermline at home in their final group game and failed to qualify for the knockout rounds.
The capital club’s irate fans turned on their own manager as their team lost a meaningless penalty shoot-out for a bonus point 3-1.
However, the 31-year-old, who had dropped Jamie Walker, a signing target for Rangers, from his squad before the match, maintained that he was unaffected by the angry reaction to the embarrassing result.
“I don't feel any more pressure now than I have done after any other game, believe me,” said Cathro. “I know that I'm accountable and responsible. I know that today was not good enough. But just because someone shouts loud enough doesn't make me feel any different.
“You want my reaction to the anger in the stands? I don't have one. My work, my focus and my responsibility is to to support the players and develop them. I don't waste time reacting to those things.”
Asked if he had a message to give the Hearts supporters, Cathro said: “As I stand here now, I feel that I don't have a right to give them a message.
"I just need to be professional and to improve things on the pitch. Then they can react to what's on the pitch. We're accountable, I'm accountable. Those are simple things.
“Believe me, I've been I angrier stadiums before. So if players want to go and have big careers, with all due respect, they'll play with more stress than they had today. I can understand why the fans are annoyed, of course. It was unacceptable.”
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