Landing Joe no Savage blow for Neilson’s set-up

ROBBIE NEILSON could be forgiven for looking a tad preoccupied when he sits down to join Hearts’ AGM on Thursday.

The meeting may be virtual over a video call but after a year of turmoil at Tynecastle, the issues on the table are anything but imaginary.

Relegation, a summer of legal wrangling and a lingering sense of injustice, the effects of the Covid lockdown, millions lost in revenue and fans locked out.

Oh yeah... and a Scottish Cup Final against Celtic three days later, the perfect opportunity to finally begin moving on from the darkness to a brighter 2021.

The feeling of injustice might just be the thing that drives them on to a ninth Scottish Cup win. But if lifting that trophy is an aspiration, winning the Championship is an absolute must.

And with the January transfer window imminent the Jambos will again be presented with the opportunity to flex their considerable financial muscle – in comparison to the rest of the second tier, at least.

Yet the best move of the window, perhaps the season, may already have been completed – the appointment of Joe Savage as sporting director at Tynecastle.

When you take a closer look at the work of the 36-year-old since he hung up the boots, it’s hard not to be impressed by his story.

A playing career that peaked with Stenhousemuir, East Stirling and in the juniors at Glenafton has given way to a scouting role that saw him rise through the ranks at Hamilton and Norwich to head of recruitment at

Preston and being linked with Southampton.

But it’s Tynecastle that’s to be the Bellshillborn Savage’s next stop.

And a number of mutual friends in the lower ends of the Scottish pyramid aren’t at all surprised by his rapid progression to the top of the game.

Former team-mates of the striker speak of a man with a deep-rooted love of football, a brilliant networker and a student of the finer aspects of the game. An attention to detail and an eye for what works on the park are characteristics that help make the talent spotter a success.

But in Gorgie his role will be far wider than

Best move of window, perhaps the season, may have been done already

brokering deals for the next Josh Ginnelly – ironically a transfer he would have played a part in given Hearts signed the winger from Preston.

Savage will be tasked with overseeing the progress of the Jambos’ academy, various soccer schools and will work closely with Andy Kirk’s women’s team.

It’s a gargantuan role but with the right appointment it’s one that should finally settle Hearts on a forward trajectory.

Should Savage begin work on the back of a Scottish Cup success, things will most certainly be looking rosy at Tynecastle. And who could have forecast that just a few months ago?

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