Steven Naismith grateful to Hearts after signing new contract

Steven Naismith revealed his gratitude to Hearts for giving him the perfect platform to establish himself as a manager after he and his backroom team extended their contracts by a year to 2026.

The club announced new deals for the 37-year-old former Scotland forward, along with coaches Frankie McAvoy, Gordon Forrest and Paul Gallacher, ahead of Saturday’s William Hill Premiership trip to Dundee.

The Jambos finished a clear third last term and chief executive Andrew McKinlay declared that “we are reiterating our trust in them and confirming our belief that they can continue to take the team on an upwards trajectory”.

Naismith feels he and Hearts have been “a good fit” since he stepped up to take charge last summer.

“The structure here was a big thing for me,” he said, speaking at a press conference after his contract renewal was announced.

“That was probably the biggest area where I wasn’t sure if I would get into management or not because if you go in at certain levels and you have not got that structure it is a big, big job.

“I have admiration for guys who are in those jobs because it is so tough. I’ve been fortunate I got an opportunity at a club where there is a real good structure, there are loads of people there to help you and a board that will back you.

“That was probably the biggest thing from me thinking, ‘Right, where do I go and get a job? Where is my first job going to be?’ I’m grateful I got this one.”

Naismith believes Hearts are in excellent shape on and off the pitch.

“It probably has gone better than I expected because of the amount of hard work and change we have managed to do,” he said, reflecting on his first year as a manager.

“That’s the way we play, the squad in general. It’s the whole bigger picture, the facility, the way we prepare, our nutrition, the chefs we’ve got. I would argue in some areas we have got the best in the league.”

Naismith – who was promoted from the role of Hearts’ B team manager following the sacking of Robbie Neilson – did not headhunt any of Forrest, McAvoy or Gallacher from elsewhere as they were already at the club, but he revealed how they have forged an effective coaching unit.

“I’ve worked with Gall at the club, I worked with Gordy as a player and a coach, and I worked with Frankie when I was a player at Norwich,” he said. “Then I worked with him up here in his role with the academy. I think we fit really well together.

“When I was a player and you know you’re going down this (management) route, you start to think of who would you have working with you.

“Right from the off, Frankie and Gordy were guys high on my list. It probably fell into place much easier than I expected. If I got a job somewhere else and you’re trying to prise people away from jobs, it can be more difficult.

“Gordy and Frankie were in roles but, being at the club and it all being internal, it was something that could be done very easily.

“It probably didn’t look as straightforward as that to the public. Gordy was a coach before and Frankie was in the academy but, being deadly serious, that’s who I would have picked if I’d gone anywhere in my first job.”