Naismith vows no players have downed

Steven Naismith admits he’s been part of a dressing room where players have downed tools to help force out an unpopular manager.

But the Scotland star insists that isn’t the case at Hearts, as the pressure mounts on Craig Levein ahead of this afternoon’s Edinburgh derby against Hibs at Easter Road.

The Tynecastle side haven’t won a league game since March, and supporters gathered outside the ground last weekend to protest after the latest defeat to Motherwell.

Naismith understands the fans’ frustrations and admits the players need to do more to help their under-fire manager, starting by beating their oldest rivals.

“When Alex Neil (below) left Norwich it was a different environment,” revealed the former Rangers forward.

“Players weren’t happy with the manager but were on good contracts and didn’t appear to be trying.

“There were others who weren’t part of his plans. But I don’t think that’s the case here. The players are still behind him and everyone is focused on the job in hand and trying to make a difference. “There are a lot of boys in the squad who owe the manager. “He has put a lot of faith in them, whether that is by giving them a new contract or by bringing them to the club in the first place.

“We need to get more from some of them in the coming games to ease the pressure and help kick-start our season.” Naismith feels Levein’s commitment to Hearts in both his roles – director of football and manager – can’t ever be called into question.

“The manager knows what is needed here and his love for the club is huge,” he added.

“Everything in football is about Hearts with him. Because of results some fans are saying he isn’t trying his best or that he isn’t good for the club. That is hard to hear because we know that in the background he is doing all he can.

“He spends the majority of his week here, whether that’s with the first team, academy, or on the business side of the club. He only wants the best for Hearts.”

The former Killie player says he wasn’t surprised to see fans demonstrating last weekend, as he’s come to realise just how great the expectation is