Neilson vows to build on European platform
HEARTS manager Robbie Neilson has acknowledged that clubs attempting to bridge the financial chasm on the Old Firm face a nigh impossible task, although admits money generated from European football can help.
Hearts travel to Celtic tomorrow with aspirations of collecting their first win in Glasgow against either of the Premiership’s heavyweights since 2014.
Even though the Gorgie side finished last season comfortably as the league’s third force, the points difference to runners up Rangers was still some 28 points.
Hearts are attempting to strengthen their squad this term with the aid of at least a £3 million windfall from a guaranteed European group campaign but Neilson admits the Old Firm have insurmountable riches.
Neilson, whose side were beaten 2-1 by FC Zurich in the first leg of their Europa League play-off tie in Switzerland on Thursday, said: “As you know in Scottish football the divide is there, that’s the difficulty of it.
“We need to slowly try and get as close as we can.
“The season we had last year allows us the chance to get group stage football and build gradually.
“Overnight we’re not going to match that spending power, we’ll probably never match it to be honest.
“But we can maybe consistently get European football and we can maybe get closer and closer and closer but it takes time.
“Celtic have spent a bit more money and signed a few more players. That’s Scottish football.
“Our job is to go there, make sure you try and negate these players and then find a way to win the game.”
Hearts will go into the game without defender Craig Halkett after the defender was forced off during the early stages of the clash with Zurich with a hamstring strain.
One positive for Neilson is that Stephen Kingsley played his first 90 minute game in St Gallen after being hampered by a similar problem.