Hearts sporting director Joe Savage has revealed being stuck in lockdown Lancashire far away from friends and family brought him to Gorgie.
The former Preston recruitment guru crossed back over the border for the first time since working under old gaffer Alex Neil at Hamilton, relegating Hibs through the play-offs in the process.
He was headhunted by Tynecastle CEO Andrew McKinlay and owner Ann Budge to lighten the load on manager Robbie Neilson in terms of recruitment, while also overseeing the club's rising women's side and developing future prospects in the academy.
Neilson and Savage are set for a huge transfer window this summer, as they shape their squad for the Premiership having sealed the Championship title and promotion in March.
In conversation with Preston podcast From The Finney, Savage revealed the pandemic isolation that stirred a yearning to return back to Scotland with his wife and young daughter.
He said: "It’s a really good club, the staff have made me feel really welcome. I’m back in my home country, my family is settled and we’ve bought a house.
“it’s been good so far but I’ve only been in the job five months.
“I’m very open, very honest. The lockdown was very difficult for us as a family.
“Myself, my wife and my little girl were stuck in a house in Preston, we couldn’t see family or friends.
“The club were great, they were always there to support us but we just started to feel alone. When restrictions were eased, people could visit people in their gardens and things like that.
“We couldn’t do anything like that; we had nobody.
“My wife is a deputy head teacher, she’s more clever than I am and she has three degrees. That’s not saying much but she’s very good at her job and we started to look at work down south for her - then the opportunity came to speak to Hearts for myself.
“You know that way where you just feel a connection, it just fits?
“I spoke to them a couple of times and it just felt right.
“It’s a role I wanted to see if I could do. I’m loving being involved in Hearts, it’s been a breath of fresh air for me.”
