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JIM JEFFERIES thought he had seen it all in management. Thought there was no situation he couldn't handle.

Turns out he was wrong.

Because never in his 28 years in the dugout did he believe dealing with a child sex case would fall into his job description.

A crime he describes as the ultimate taboo.

A day he insists made his heart sink.

A scenario he admits is the worst he's ever had to deal with.

And a decision made by a morally-bankrupt owner who has simply left him to pick up the pieces.

But no matter how hard the 60-year-old finds it to manage an unmanageable situation the one thing he does acknowledge is it will be NOTHING compared to the consequences facing Thomson.

Not just today or tomorrow but for the rest of his life. Not just on the football park but everywhere he shows face.

Placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for five years after pleading guilty to lewd, libidinous and indecent behaviour towards 12 and 14-year-old girls, the Scotland Under-21 full-back faces a backlash at every ground in the country - including his own - if he ever pulls on a maroon jersey again.

And it could be on a scale the 20-year-old can't even begin to imagine.

Speaking at their Il Ciocco training base in Italy, Jeff chose his words carefully and said: "This is the worst thing I've ever had to deal with.

"Part of a manager's life is dealing with situations. In my career, I've never had anything I couldn't deal with ultimately but this has been difficult. It's the ultimate taboo.

"It makes your heart sink. You don't want your club to be associated with not just this but anything like it.

"You accept as a manager you'll have to deal with problems along the road but I have to be honest and say I've never felt like this.

""There's a big part of me is sorry that the player got involved.

"I knew what the reaction would be and he can't have any complaints because it was a bad, bad thing he did. He has made a grave error."

Not so grave, in the eyes of Vladimir Romanov at least, that his crimes cost him his job.

But keeping it, according to Jefferies, may be something Thomson yet lives to regret. Because handling the abuse and the inevitable chants that will rain down on him every time he pulls his boots on will require skin thicker than a rhinoceros hide.

Jefferies said: "The lad's obviously had time to think about what he wanted to do and he's decided he wants to remain a professional football player.

"The club have made a board decision regarding his future.

"And he's now in a situation where we've made him well aware he might not even be able to recognise or contemplate what might be around the corner for him.

"I don't think it will hit him until it happens. He has, through certain ways - which will be hell of a difficult for him - to change the feeling towards him if he wants to have a future. He can't defend himself because he's pled guilty to what he's done - all he can do is try to put his side of the thing over.

"He has to try to change a perception and get people's opinions to vary slightly.

"But the bottom line is you can't condone what he did and he can't hide from the fact it was a stupid and terrible thing to do.

"One of the worst things it's possible to do. And it affects a lot of people.

"What he has to face is a backlash, not just from his own supporters but everyone else's.

"It will make it difficult for him. The lad will have to be very careful off the park as well. Wherever he goes he'll be scrutinised, even on a social side.

"He probably thinks just now because he's a young boy that this is his life, it's all he wants to do.

"There'll be a lot of strength of character required from him if he's ever to get through it."

Even if Thomson COULD handle what's ahead of him, Jefferies also has to consider the fact he has the rest of his squad to think about.

The Hearts boss said: "We can't allow it to become a bit of a sideshow that gets out of hand."

For the man who wrote himself into Hearts history 13 years ago leading them to the Scottish Cup, that sideshow is already real. And just the latest in a string of headlines that have left him gutted. Jefferies said: "A lot of the time now you have to think about looking at the front pages instead of the back pages in football.

"A lot of it is down to lifestyles of young players. The game has changed money-wise and for some reason it seems to lead down a certain path."

For Thomson, though, it's a long way back up that path to salvation.

Jefferies said: "When I first read the report I couldn't see any way back for the boy. But he has said his side, wanted the full facts to be known.

"I've seen the facts and if that's what he believes will help him get through this then he's going to have to show a hell of a strength of character because it's the worst thing he could ever be involved in."