Former bad Bhoy Watt’s in good Heart for fresh start
TONY WATT knows he has an image problem in Scotland, but the new Hearts signing is determined to prove his bad boy reputation is a thing of the past.
The former Celtic frontman – who has joined the Jambos on a one-year loan from Charlton – is as much remembered for his winning goal against Barcelona in 2012 as he is for the fall-outs he has had with a string of managers.
Aged j ust 22, he is now preparing to pull on the jersey of his eighth club.
Watt admits some of the negative public perception surrounding him – fuelled by criticism from former bosses such as Neil Lennon– has been self-inflicted.
Former Ajax keeper Stanley Menzo, who was his coach at Belgian club Lierse, branded him “lazy and unfit” and Watt now confesses he failed to train as hard as he should have.
But the former Standard Liege, Cardiff and Blackburn striker has vowed to show he is a reformed character after returning north to join Robbie Neilson’s squad.
He said: “Maybe I was a bad trainer when I was younger and maybe I wasn’t as professional as I’d liked to have been.
“It is hard to shake these reputations off, but I am doing my best to get rid of it.
“I want to score goals and I want to work hard, that is how I will change that reputation.
“I came back up the road to be closer to my family. They are my support and my life. They mean the most to me and are helping me through everything.
“It annoys me a little that people have an opinion about me, but don’t really know me. But I don’t listen to people on the outside. I just focus on what my family say to me.
“All this negativity in the Press obviously frustrates you as most of it is lies.
“But things are clearing up now and I’m happy about that. I’m more mature now but I don’t think I’m a different person.
“A lot of times during my career people have asked my agent what my attitude is like because they have heard things through the grapevine. That’s part of life.
“But if my ability shows what I’m really made of here then everything that has gone before won’t matter any more.
“I want to show the world what I can do here at Hearts. Maybe I’ve got a bit of a reputation here in Scotland, but I know I will show people what I’m capable of.”
WATT admits his time with the Addicks in London left him feeling isolated, but now he has returned to his parents’ home in Coatbridge he hopes happier times will follow.
“It will make a big difference,” he said. “Every day I’ll be going home to the people who care most about me, to see my nephews running about and my girlfriend rather than sitting bored on my own for 12 hours a day. It will help keep me grounded.
“It is difficult being away. My family came down south sometimes. Having that support network round about you is the most important thing.
“I don’t want to play football when I’m unhappy – it doesn’t do anything for me. I want to play football happy and having my family beside me means more than anything else.”
Watt could make his Hearts debut against former side Celtic when the Tynecastle side’s Ladbrokes Premiership campaign gets under way a week on Sunday, but he hopes to make a positive impression and catch the eye of Scotland boss Gordon Strachan, who handed him his sole cap against the Czech Republic earlier this year.
“It will be strange playing against Celtic,” admitted the former Airdrie youngster. “But it doesn’t faze me or scare me. I want to do my best for Hearts.
“Hopefully I can do well and eventually get back into the Scotland squad.
“I’ve had a bit of a stop-start, turbulent career. Now I’ve got the chance to stay put for a while and start kicking on.”