Surely there is no more romantically named football club in these islands than Heart of Midlothian. No other club is distinguished by being named after a work of literary fiction, although the Heart of Midlothian in Scott's eponymous novel is an unromantic prison at the heart of Scotland's capital. It is a pity that the fashion for clubs with literary associations never caught on. If it had, Manchester City might be The Way We Live Now, its rival United the Well-Beloved, Spurs could be Great Expectations, and Liverpool The Red Badge of Courage. Bradford City would surely prosper as Good Companions and Wolverhampton Wanderers as Dream of Gerontius in honour of Elgar's support. This week – for the fifth time in recent years – the revenue is a step away from sending Hearts into liquidation over unpaid tax. Let us hope it does not happen, and that passion and poetry will continue to prevail.

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