Wigan story spurs on Jamie Hamill at Jambos

Jamie Hamill would sacrefice cup success for Premiership survival.

The Hearts star watched Wigan cement their place in the history books by winning the FA Cup last season. However, four days later the Latics were relegated following a 4-1 defeat to Arsenal.

But the Tynecastle midfielder insists he would rather reverse the roles by helping Hearts avoid the drop at the expense of League Cup glory.

Gary Locke’s men will attempt to secure their place in the Final this afternoon by overcoming Inverness Caley Thistle at Easter Road.

Hamill is desperate to do everything within his power to make sure his side win the game but he is honest enough to admit survival is the target he’d like to secure the most.

He said: “Hopefully the scenario Wigan faced is not the case for us. We’ve got a few more months to keep up the fight, so hopefully we can keep it going as well as getting to a final.

“I want to get to the Final as well but at the end of the day if I was to choose one, it would be staying in the League, hands down same as everyone else in the dressing-room.

“I’d love to get there AND stay in the League maybe getting there would take a wee bit of the strain away from the League and give us something to look forward to.

“What do you really get out of winning a cup? I suppose memories and I really would love to go there and win one but keeping Hearts in the Premiership would be the bigger achievement.”

Hamill believes overturning a 15-point deficit and pulling off what would be the greatest escape of all time makes avoiding relegation a greater target than Cup glory.

He said: “When you consider the 15-point deduction we had to face then I’d say so. Getting to the Final would be massive under the circumstances but most of the boys would be happier to stay in the League.

“At the start of this season I set out to help keep Hearts in the League the Cups would take care of themselves. It didn’t matter how we stayed in the League, just that we did and hopefully at the end of the season we can say we did.”

Hamill is honest enough to admit Hearts’ woes can get to him at times but he is adamant he doesn’t regret accepting a wage cut and staying at the club.

He said: “I’ve no regrets. It has been difficult at times. But all the players are giving it everything they’ve got and, hopefully, we can give the supporters a cup final to look forward to.”