Prior to their pre-season friendly with Tottenham, Hearts boss Steven Naismith has been discussing a range of topics, including transfers in and out of Tynecastle.
Here are the best bits:
On Alex Cochrane’s potential move to Birmingham…
“It’s in the works. It’s a football business decision that makes sense.
“I think every club in Scotland are in that bracket that if good offers come in for your players, they need to be considered. I think it’s a good model, us as a club haven’t been good enough at it in previous years.
“Alex came in and improved Hearts and this is the outcome of it, so it’s a good deal for everybody.”
On attracting new players to Hearts…
“There is a lot about the club to make it attractive.
“On the football side of it you’ve got a great stadium, a well supported club, there’s a demand, we’ve got European football.
“You get good exposure and that gives you an opportunity to come in and play regularly, and if you’re successful you never know what can happen.”
On budget for incomings…
“Any conversation I have had with the club has been that if we identify a player we think is the right one, is a good prospect and can be developed and progress, then the club say they’ll back that and go for it.
“I don’t think one sale makes it that we have a pot of money.
“We’ve always tried to identify players and to have brought six or seven players shows we’re trying to do our business quickly.”
On interest in Toby Sibbick and Nathaniel Atkinson…
“There have been a couple of conversations had, nothing to give any more information on but I would expect there to be movement over the course of the weeks coming up.”
On Ange Postecoglou’s move down south…
“I think he took a lot of people by surprise at the start, as he did in Scotland.
“He stuck to his principles and he probably didn’t get the credit for the season Spurs had. From where they were to last season was a massive turnaround.
“I think he’s been good for Scottish football as well as English football.”
Steven Naismith,Alex Cochrane,Hearts
