Bartley familiar with Flo
MailSport there was no other option left to him other than to leave Tynecastle.
It was a decision that he didn’t take lightly and he said: “I was young and coming through at the time.
“When I broke in, I was always in and out of the Hearts team. I never got a good run – I only ever got a chance due to injuries or things like that.
“I would have liked to play more with Hearts but, being young, I’ve gone away and improved and I’m now looking forward to playing in the Premiership with Dundee United.
“The whole time I was at Hearts there were good full-backs.
“Initially it was Callum and he’s gone on to play in England at a high level with Cardiff. Michael was the rightback when I left and he is a really good player and a Northern Ireland cap.
“So, I didn’t have any complaints that I wasn’t going to be first choice but I knew I had to go somewhere so that I could play.
“The experience of playing regular games when I went to St Mirren was brilliant. It was a good experience, learning and playing at the top of the Championship.
“Since then I have worked on my all- round game, especially defensively as that was an area to improve.
“I think I’ve become a better defender in the past two years and I am ready to make the step up again.
“After playing the full season at Saints, I knew I did not want to go back to Gorgie and have to return to sitting on a bench.
“It was a mutual decision between me and Hearts that it would be best for myca re er if I l e f t and went somewhere that I was going to play every week.
“I don’t regret that decision now – it was the right call at the time.”
Marvin Bartley insists he isn’t shy in tel l ing Flo Kamberi when he has made a mistake after revealing the Rangers striker is one of his best friends in the game.
The pair played together at Hibs and Bartley says they hit it off as soon as the Swiss marksman joined on an initial loan deal in 2018.
Kamberi subsequently penned a permanent deal in the capital but angered the Easter Road fans when he made his temporary switch to Rangers back in January.
The 25-year-old hailed the Ibrox supporters as the best in the world and claimed it had been his dream to play for the Govan club.
Bartley, now at Livingston, said: “My best friend at Hibs, and it’s hard to say this because I was friends with all of them, was probably Flo.
“He is very honest and we can talk about anything.
“The less said about him at the moment the better!
“Flo has made some mistakes as a player and the things he has said.
“I tell him those things because we’re that close. We formed a bond at Hibs.”