PEAK OF JEALOUSY

Del in the dark whether secret supporters share touchline with him but he is in no doubt what fills their hearts... ENVY

- BY MICHAEL GANNON

DEREK MCINNES doesn't know if some rival bosses are secretly cheering on his Hearts team in their bid to pull off one of Scottish football's greatest feats.

But the Jambos gaffer does reckon a chunk of them will be jealous of the position he and his team are now in - because he would feel exactly the same.

McInnes has been around the cutthroat top flight for long enough to know how it works.

Fellow managers sometimes shake with one hand and clench a fist with the other.

But with the Premiership title race down to three - perhaps still four - teams, the others may have their own preferences who gets over the line first.

Former Livingston gaffer Davie Martindale declared his banner early, insisting a Hearts title win would be brilliant for Scottish football.

Plenty of others may think the same... even if they do not dare say so in public.

McInnes isn't bothered either way as he flies the maroon flag, yet he knows where most gaffers would rather be.

McInnes said: "Honestly, I don't know what they think.

"I know what I would think if I was watching them - I'd be envious of how well they are doing.

"I always thought that if I didn't get this job, I'd have been envious of whoever did because it gives you a chance to be successful with the support network around the club.

"But there are still no guarantees."

There have been plenty of dugout rammies over the years, albeit there is respect along with any rivalry.

However, there is not quite the same rapport among the bosses as there was in years gone by when they traditionally spent post-match debriefs together over a bottle of wine - win lose or draw.

"Not many now," added McInnes. "That's changed, which is a shame because I always liked it when there was a draw. Only a few managers still come in.

"I think there's so much press now, that can take up 45 or 50 minutes. If you're the losing manager, you don't want to hang about.