The Jambos will hold their annual general meeting at Tynecastle tomorrow
The Jambos are now the largest fan-owned club in the UK thanks to the Foundation of Hearts taking majority control from Ann Budge two years ago, and the FOH will be represented at the meeting along with all of the other shareholders of the club. With grumblings over on-field performance, the appointment of Steven Naismith as manager and plenty of other things, it’s sure to be tense at times.
Recruitment is always high on the agenda at football clubs and with the capital club’s recent record on that front, it will almost certainly be brought up. But there are plenty of other burning issues that will be high on the agenda and will provoke debate.
Steven Naismith’s future
Despite that recent four-game winning run, the Jambos boss was still struggling to win over some of the support. Two defeats on the bounce, and the manner of them, has given rise to the dissenting voices once more.
The calls for Naismith’s removal were quiet during that spell even if he never quite had their approval, but like Robbie Neilson before him they are never likely to fully go away unless he can go on a proper lengthy run of results or dig out a statement win or two.
Because it is such a emotive issue for supporters, it is likely to be raised at the meeting. Is Naismith’s job safe? Is he under proper scrutiny from the board over performance? Where will the line be drawn in terms of how patient the club can be?
Why no Cifuentes?
Interviewed at the same time as the former club captain was Spaniard Marti Cifuentes, who was in charge of Swedish side Hammarby at the time.
When they opted for Naismith those not on board with it accused the board of taking the easy, or even cheap, option.
Some were perhaps keen to see them go down the path of the unknown, someone a bit different and coming from a different football culture.
What has made it even worse is that English Championship side QPR have now employed Cifuentes and he has just taken them on a three-game winning streak to steer them away from the bottom of the table.
Shareholders will want to know why he wasn’t deemed good enough for Hearts when he has managed to have that sort of impact in a short space of time down south.
The interview process as a whole will be under the spotlight as many believed the job was Naismith’s all alone and it was all for show.
Recruitment
After the poor end to last season, Hearts needed some signings in the summer that could really improve their starting XI.
It’s safe to say that didn’t happen. Only Frankie Kent, who is potentially the player of the season so far, has been able to do that while loan signing Alex Lowry has looked good in fits and starts.
Kyosuke Tagawa and Kenneth Vargas were brought in from Japan and Costa Rica respectively and understandably have taken time to settle. But could the club not have gone for proven players who could improve them right away?
Former club captain Michael Stewart in recent days raised the issue about ignoring talent on the doorstep in the domestic game so that will be at the forefront of the minds of those in attendance too.
Style of play
Those fans who were in favour of Steven Naismith getting the job had been persuaded by the fast, attacking football that he promised and did implement while in temporary charge of the team. It hasn’t come this season.
So, are the board happy with the style of play being served up? Did they appoint the manager on the strength of his promises, and if so why hasn’t he delivered that?
Young players
Another promise from Naismith was to integrate more young players into the first-team squad.
Only really Aidan Denholm has been given minutes and he’s been getting less and less of them as the season has gone on.
Obviously it takes time to bleed them in and it needs to be done when they are ready, but the performance of the academy has been a bone of contention for many years now and still will be.
New training ground
Last year, CEO Andrew McKinlay revealed Hearts were hoping for a new £20m training ground, as research began on how to carry out what would be a five-year project.
The club currently use state-of-the-art facilities at the national performance centre at the Oriam at Riccarton, but are tenants there and would love to have their own amenity.
As it stands, they have to book pitches in advance and are also in the public eye and would prefer the benefits that would come from owning their base.
While not ruling out staying at Oriam under new arrangements, McKinlay had started looking for sites and ways of funding it.
Updates are likely to be sought on this and also assurances the Oriam is serving the club’s needs in the meantime.
Lawrence Shankland
Where would Hearts be without their top scorer, captain and talisman? Their second top scorer is ‘own goal’ to put it into perspective.
Shankland’s future has been the topic of much discussion with pundits trying to link him to Celtic and Rangers.
Whether either of the Glasgow clubs hold an interest is unknown but there will surely be teams keeping tabs, especially with his contract up in the summer of 2024.
Former Jambos coach and Rangers player Lee McCulloch recently suggest the Gers should place a lowball offer in for the 28-year-old so shareholders and fans will be eager to know what the club values him at and how determined they are to show their resolve.
The Jambos will hold their annual general meeting at Tynecastle tomorrow
Hearts’ shareholders will get their yearly chance to grill the board when the club’s AGM takes place at Tynecastle tomorrow.
The Jambos are now the largest fan-owned club in the UK thanks to the Foundation of Hearts taking majority control from Ann Budge two years ago, and the FOH will be represented at the meeting along with all of the other shareholders of the club. With grumblings over on-field performance, the appointment of Steven Naismith as manager and plenty of other things, it’s sure to be tense at times.
Recruitment is always high on the agenda at football clubs and with the capital club’s recent record on that front, it will almost certainly be brought up. But there are plenty of other burning issues that will be high on the agenda and will provoke debate.
Steven Naismith’s future
Despite that recent four-game winning run, the Jambos boss was still struggling to win over some of the support. Two defeats on the bounce, and the manner of them, has given rise to the dissenting voices once more.
The calls for Naismith’s removal were quiet during that spell even if he never quite had their approval, but like Robbie Neilson before him they are never likely to fully go away unless he can go on a proper lengthy run of results or dig out a statement win or two.
Because it is such a emotive issue for supporters, it is likely to be raised at the meeting. Is Naismith’s job safe? Is he under proper scrutiny from the board over performance? Where will the line be drawn in terms of how patient the club can be?
Why no Cifuentes?
Interviewed at the same time as the former club captain was Spaniard Marti Cifuentes, who was in charge of Swedish side Hammarby at the time.
When they opted for Naismith those not on board with it accused the board of taking the easy, or even cheap, option.
Some were perhaps keen to see them go down the path of the unknown, someone a bit different and coming from a different football culture.
What has made it even worse is that English Championship side QPR have now employed Cifuentes and he has just taken them on a three-game winning streak to steer them away from the bottom of the table.
Shareholders will want to know why he wasn’t deemed good enough for Hearts when he has managed to have that sort of impact in a short space of time down south.
The interview process as a whole will be under the spotlight as many believed the job was Naismith’s all alone and it was all for show.
Recruitment
After the poor end to last season, Hearts needed some signings in the summer that could really improve their starting XI.
It’s safe to say that didn’t happen. Only Frankie Kent, who is potentially the player of the season so far, has been able to do that while loan signing Alex Lowry has looked good in fits and starts.
Kyosuke Tagawa and Kenneth Vargas were brought in from Japan and Costa Rica respectively and understandably have taken time to settle. But could the club not have gone for proven players who could improve them right away?
Former club captain Michael Stewart in recent days raised the issue about ignoring talent on the doorstep in the domestic game so that will be at the forefront of the minds of those in attendance too.
Style of play
Those fans who were in favour of Steven Naismith getting the job had been persuaded by the fast, attacking football that he promised and did implement while in temporary charge of the team. It hasn’t come this season.
So, are the board happy with the style of play being served up? Did they appoint the manager on the strength of his promises, and if so why hasn’t he delivered that?
Young players
Another promise from Naismith was to integrate more young players into the first-team squad.
Only really Aidan Denholm has been given minutes and he’s been getting less and less of them as the season has gone on.
Obviously it takes time to bleed them in and it needs to be done when they are ready, but the performance of the academy has been a bone of contention for many years now and still will be.
New training ground
Last year, CEO Andrew McKinlay revealed Hearts were hoping for a new £20m training ground, as research began on how to carry out what would be a five-year project.
The club currently use state-of-the-art facilities at the national performance centre at the Oriam at Riccarton, but are tenants there and would love to have their own amenity.
As it stands, they have to book pitches in advance and are also in the public eye and would prefer the benefits that would come from owning their base.
While not ruling out staying at Oriam under new arrangements, McKinlay had started looking for sites and ways of funding it.
Updates are likely to be sought on this and also assurances the Oriam is serving the club’s needs in the meantime.
Lawrence Shankland
Where would Hearts be without their top scorer, captain and talisman? Their second top scorer is ‘own goal’ to put it into perspective.
Shankland’s future has been the topic of much discussion with pundits trying to link him to Celtic and Rangers.
Whether either of the Glasgow clubs hold an interest is unknown but there will surely be teams keeping tabs, especially with his contract up in the summer of 2024.
Former Jambos coach and Rangers player Lee McCulloch recently suggest the Gers should place a lowball offer in for the 28-year-old so shareholders and fans will be eager to know what the club values him at and how determined they are to show their resolve.
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