Craig Gordon reckons there was a lot of false bravado flying around in Saturday’s Edinburgh derby dust-up. But the Hearts skipper insists there’s nothing pretend about Steven Naismith’s claim for the Tynecastle throne.
The Jambos skipper is absolutely convinced Naismith is cut out for the rough and tumble of top level management. Having spent 16 years together in the Scotland ranks and the last three as colleagues in Gorgie, Gordon never needed any proof that Naisy was head strong enough to handle a Premiership top job.
However, after seeing the 36-year-old handle seven weeks of adversity to steady the ship he’s as convinced as ever the rookie interim boss is ready to become permanent manager. Record Sport revealed yesterday the former Rangers and Everton striker is edging towards being named Robbie Neilson’s successor. And anyone wondering if he had the backing of the coaching staff and players in Gorgie only had to witness the incredible scenes at the end of the Hibs draw as fists flew - along with hot water bottles and insults. Gordon, who emerged from behind the dug out to help restore peace, said: “I don’t know what was going on - I think everybody was trying to hold everybody else back.
“There were so many people in the one place but nothing actually happened! A hot water bottle? No idea what was going on! It was a crazy match.
“It was the difference between fourth and fifth, and it wasn’t just the bragging rights, but in terms of Europe and players’ bonuses in relation to the finishing position.”
In terms of that the draw was enough for Hearts to retain local bragging rights and push Naismith closer to the job. And on that Gordon said: “There isn’t a great deal more he could have done.
“There is a lot that went against us in that time, in terms of red cards and things that have been sent to try him and he has managed to come out the other side so personally I think he can be very happy with how he has handled the seven games.
“He showed that if he does get the opportunity I think everyone will be working really hard in pre-season to continue the development Naisy has already put in.
“As far as the players are concerned I’m sure they would like that and to try and improve on where they were. I think he did well and whatever happens he can hold his head high because he did everything that was asked of him.
“The players really tried to buy into what he was looking for us to do. so I think the players would be happy with that. It’s down to the board now to make the decision they think best for going forward.”
As a friend and club captain with four years more wisdom Gordon might have expected the caretaker to lean on him for advice - particularly as he continues his rehab from last year’s horror leg break.
But Gordon said: “Now and again he does but not really. He has been very clear about what he wants. He’s got a good experienced coaching team there as well, with Frankie McAvoy and Gordon Forrest, and those, as a three, complement each other.
“Naisy has a good voice and speaks very well. He thinks about the game, he is very intense. He has been so enthusiastic about it. He spent a lot of time on implementing his style, a lot of time in meetings.
“He brought in smaller group meetings, where he was speaking to defenders, or different parts of the team where he tried to show them what he was looking for and he put an enormous amount of effort into trying to get his message across in terms of how he wanted us to play.”
Gordon isn’t used to things slipping through his size 10 mitts. So the goalkeeper was as hurt as anyone at Tynecastle when third place was allowed to slither out Hearts’ grasp and through their legs on a plate for Aberdeen.
Gordon has had to watch on in horror as his team mates lost all sense of control of the lucrative best of the rest tag after he suffered a horror leg break in the Christmas Eve draw with Dundee United. But he’s convinced there’s not a lot needing fixing to get back on track.
He said: “We were unhappy and disappointed that we didn’t manage to get third, having had it in our grasp for most of the season. To let that go was disappointing, in terms of how the last couple of months have gone.
“We had started to look a bit better again and more like ourselves and the players would like to continue that next season. We don’t see an awful lot wrong. We do have the makings of a very good team but we have been unlucky with injuries and we need to get those guys back.
“We have been without them for virtually the whole season. But if we can get them back and add a couple more in addition to that then I think we are in a really strong place going into next season.”
