Steven Naismith insists the Edinburgh derby shouldn’t become judgement day on whether he should be handed the Hearts job on a permanent basis
The Jambos interim gaffer believes his performance over the last two months should become the deciding factor as he attempts to lead his team to win this afternoon which would guarantee European football and a fourth place finish.
Naismith has impressed in the role since replacing Robbie Neilson in April and with the Tynecastle club having lost just once in their last five outings. But as Lee Johnson’s side arrive in Gorgie today with a two point advantage in fourth spot, Naismith is adamant it shouldn’t be win or bust in his ambition to become boss. He said: “If I am getting judged on one game I don’t think it’s the right approach to take. I think the bigger picture in all you’ve got to look at everything. It’s important just like the other results have been important.
“For the club they need to understand what they want in their next manager, what they want for the longer term. But since I have been at the club I have had an understanding that the club needs attacking football, they need an identity and they need to have something that’s bigger.
“That’s what I believe and that’s what I have tried to do in the seven weeks since I have taken over. You’ve got to add in the fact you need to get results or you’re giving yourself no chance.
“You have to show what type of coach and manager you are in terms of style. But you can’t just go full on doing that because you might make mistakes and cost yourself results.
“So it’s a fine balance but I think I have equipped myself very well.”
Naismith stepped up from his role taking charge of the Hearts B team after Neilson’s dismissal and he is realistic about the possibility he may return to that post but he also believes the Jambos board will already have an idea of how they are plotting their way forward.
He said: “If I’m not the manager here I will potentially go back to the role I’ve been in and I’ll go away with Scotland and I’ll wait until the right moment comes again. It’s something I’m not bothered about. What will happen, will happen.
“I haven’t been given an exact time frame other than at the end of the season we will sit down and talk. So I expect to speak to the club after this weekend. Is it going to be that night or Sunday, I couldn’t tell you. But it will be a conversation that we will have.
‘The club has been good that way. There’s a structure here and we need to plan. I’ve been involved in some but I think everyone involved will want clarity sooner rather than later and I think the club will be pretty equipped on that.
‘I’m not naive to think they will be sitting going: ‘right, we will see what happens at the end of the season and then make a decision’ and then they will go through a recruitment process if there’s a new manager coming. I’d imagine they will have all their ducks in a row and know who they want to pursue, whether that’s one, two or three candidates.”
The capital derby will not be broadcast live on television and Naismith hit out at the blackout and insists he’s not holding his breath for Scottish football getting its house in order when it comes to showcasing the best our game has to offer.
He said: "It’s a bigger issue with Scottish football. We’ve got a TV deal and an amount of games each season don’t get covered.
“That’s not good enough in all honesty. I think every derby across the top level should be shown on TV whether it’s the Dundee derby, the Edinburgh derby or the Old Firm.
“We have got a product here that we need to push and it’s good. I definitely agree this game should be on telly but that’s probably a discussion for the people higher up.”
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