Hearts boss Daniel Stendel has confessed he expects the Gorgie club will be playing in the second tier when Scottish football restarts despite chairman Ann Budge's reconstruction bid.
The Jambos finished bottom of the Premiership on a points per game average and have been relegated after losing the decisive final game against St Mirren before the campaign came to an early finish due to Covid-19.
Hearts are now pinning their hopes on a new attempt by Budge to kickstart league reconstruction plans, which she hopes could yet save the capital club from relegation.
But German boss Stendel admits he's less than hopeful of that scenario.He said: "My experience tells me that the chance of that happening is not very big.