STEVEN NAISMITH last night broke his silence on his sacking by Hearts and acknowledged that the results he’d overseen this season were unacceptable.
Initially appointed interim manager in April 2023, the 38-year-old former youth coach took the Tynecastle side to third place in the Premiership in his first permanent season in charge.
But having suffered an eighth successive defeat at St Mirren on Saturday, with the winless run extending to nine, Naismith was relieved of his duties the following day along with assistant coaches Frankie McAvoy and Gordon Forrest.
With the club languishing at the bottom of the Premiership with just one point, the former player admitted that the situation the team found itself in simply fell way short of expectations. ‘I am disappointed that my time at Heart of Midlothian Football Club has come to an end,’ he said in a pre-prepared statement.
Naismith was sacked after Hearts lost five Premiership games in a row
Hearts lost 2-1 to St Mirren on Saturday in Naismith's final game in charge
‘This season has been a frustrating one for a number of reasons and ultimately it just hasn’t been good enough. When you’re at a big club with demands and expectations and you go on a bad run of form — pressure is always going to come.
‘I would like to thank everyone associated with Heart of Midlothian, where I have spent nearly eight years of my career.
‘From my first day I formed a strong connection with the club and all who work there. I knew, understood and appreciated the standards and demands of HMFC and this was something I constantly tried to uphold as a player and manager. The board put faith in me and gave me the opportunity to become a leader of the club and I am truly grateful for that.
‘I fully believe that this board are the right people to guide the club — I truly believe all they want is success. I also believe the club is very near to taking the next step and progressing to the next level continuing on the trajectory it has been on.’
Naismith and his backroom staff were handed new deals at the outset of this campaign.
He was also given scope in the transfer market to sign players of the calibre of Blair Spittal and Yan Dhanda.
Given time, though, Naismith feels the squad can kick on and prove their worth.
‘In my opinion the squad of players has lots of potential,’ he added.
Striker Lawrence Shankland was prolific last season but has not yet scored this term
‘Even though this season at times we have struggled to get going, I have confidence that they will fulfil their potential.’
While the visiting support at Paisley turned on him at full-time on Saturday, the former Scotland international was grateful for the backing he enjoyed during the majority of his tenure. ‘The fans are a huge part of the football club and their work to secure control of the club is special,’ he said.
‘Hearts have many great people who follow the club every week, the desire for success is clear to see. I really do hope you get some special moments in the near future.’
As Mail Sport revealed yesterday, Hearts will now use Tony Bloom’s Jamestown Analytics company to help identify Naismith’s successor.
The Brighton chairman has put his faith in his data companies as Brighton have risen from League One to a team playing European football in 15 years.
Bloom is currently in negotiations over a £10million deal which would see Hearts use his systems to identify players and managers.