BUT YOU HAVEN’T PLAYED US YET!
Our friends across the city are telling us they’re top of the Premiership... Jambos chief McKinlay hopes to celebrate a year in charge with derby day victory
HE was a big hitter with Scottish Golf. Now Andrew McKinlay is sure he’s made the right choice of club as he looks to drive Hearts back to the top of Scottish football.
It’s been a year since the businessman swapped his chief executive role at St Andrews for that at Tynecastle ahead of Robbie Neilson’s Jambos’ surge to the Championship title.
That triumph was little more than a formality.
But the early-season form that has seen them pitch up at the top of the Premiership leaderboard alongside capital rivals Hibs has raised more than a few eyebrows.
It’s no surprise to McKinlay though. He insists Hearts are reaping the rewards of a shift in recruitment strategy that now sees them focus on quality over quantity after years of “revolving door” summer transfer windows.
Celtic, St Mirren and Dundee United have all been beaten so far. Next up, in eight days’ time, is a table-topping Tynecastle Edinburgh derby.
And McKinlay was in bullish mood as he surveyed the landscape that sees the Jambos sit just behind Hibs at the top on goal difference – telling Jack Ross’ side, ‘You’ve not played anyone yet’.
He said: “Hopefully the fans can see where we’re trying to go with the club. It’s going in the right direction.
“We’re pleased with the players we’ve brought in and it was great on Saturday to see the bench looking stronger.
“It feels like we’re building a decent squad which can challenge in the Premiership.
“I’m hugely pleased by this season’s start. I kept getting asked the question about, ‘What’s going to happen when you get off to a bad start’.
“No one asked me, ‘What’s going to happen when you get off to a good start?’
“I kept saying that I didn’t expect to get off to a bad start.
“The fixtures came out and we had some big games early on.
“Our friends across the city are telling us they’re top of the league. I look at the four games they’ve played and I think we’ve had harder games so far. I’m looking forward to playing them here.
“A derby win would be magnificent. I’m fully expecting it and I know our fans will be expecting it.
“After everything we’ve achieved so far this season, if we don’t do it on that day then it will be doom and gloom. That’s the nature of these games.
“I’m confident, I’m sure the players will be and I’m sure Hibs feel the same. It’s fantastic for football in Edinburgh that we will get the spotlight for once as opposed to the other side of the country.”
McKinlay is convinced the change in recruitment strategy has been key to Hearts’ upturn in fortunes.
The introduction of Joe Savage as sporting director to work as a star spotter alongside manager Neilson has brought a streamlined approach built on improved analysis of players which has limited the number of flops arriving on Gorgie Road.
The additions of Josh Ginnelly, Aaron McAneff and Gary Mackay-Steven have raised the bar. Now this summer the arrivals of Ben Woodburn, Beni Baningime and Cameron Devlin have taken it to another level.
Barrie McKay is the latest target as Hearts look to strengthen their attacking options. And McKinlay said: “It’s not for me to comment on the past but we’ve made it clear it was always about quality and not quantity.
“You need enough players to have a squad. If you have too many then you can’t keep them all happy.
“We identified positions we needed and in all of them we’ve managed to get exactly what we were looking for.
“I don’t think anyone brought in is just here to fill a seat. They
will all challenge for a first-team place. We knew we needed a sporting director. That was a hugely important appointment.
“We looked at a few people last summer then decided to put it on hold. We waited a few months to let Robbie settle in, then we had conversations with a few people and spoke to Joe.
“His enthusiasm and work ethic, we just knew this was the right person for us.
“Joe came in at Christmas and since then has been building his own team. We needed to strengthen the data and analysis side, how we identify players. I think that’s starting to bear fruit. “It doesn’t mean every signing will be good but you hope more are good than not good. “I know it’s been a concern that a lot have come in over the last few years that just haven’t done it.
“I’m sure when they were signed there was an expectation that they would be good but we are trying to avoid that.
“On the contracts thing, it’s getting a balance. We have a few in on loan, some we would love to turn into permanents. We need to see how that pans out.
“We managed it with Josh Ginnelly last year. You also have guys on permanent deals, like Beni Baningime from Everton.
“These guys have hit the ground running. Long may that continue.”