Characters in short supply at Tynecastle says Naismith

Hearts striker Steven Naismith admits a lack of character within the team was the reason last season descended into a “farce”.

The Gorgie outfit are facing playing in next term’s Championship unless they can halt their relegation through the courts.

Hearts were four points adrift at the Premiership basement with only four wins from 30 games when the campaign came to a premature end.

And experienced Scotland international Naismith insists there were not enough players standing up to take responsibility for their woeful form.

Naismith said: “If I’m honest there’s probably been a general acceptance and not enough people around the club just saying, ‘right, I’m going to drag this and get us where we need to go’.

“There’s not been enough in that camp that’s managed to do that, which has caused trouble in the season just past there, which has ultimately ended in farce.”

However, Naismith, who first moved to Tynecastle initially on loan from Norwich City in January 2018, insists everything is in place for Hearts, who recently reappointed Robbie Neilson as manager, to become a force in Scottish football once again.

He added: “With the infrastructure, the facilities, the whole structure of the business, rather than just the football, it’s in great condition.

“It’s one of those that with some changes can definitely flourish in Scotland.”

German Daniel Stendel replaced Craig Levein as manager in December but failed to oversee an upturn in the club’s fortunes.

Naismith admits he was taken aback by the former Barnsley manager’s approach.

Speaking to the Lockdown Tactics podcast, he added: “He made it clear to everybody that this was a blank slate, ‘because of what you’ve done or who you are doesn’t mean I’ll be seeing you in a different light’.

“It was like, ‘I’m going to watch you all in training and decide who I want’ and that’s how he went.

“I was surprised – I must say, yes.”

Steven Naismith admits Hearts’ season was a “farce”.