Naismith: Confusion not to blame for heavy defeat

Steven Naismith denied that the Hearts squad are displaying the ill-effects of “confusion” over lack of leadership following their 5-0 mauling by Rangers.

The inability of Ann Budge and the Hearts board to put Austin Macphee out of his misery as interim manager more than a month after Craig Levein was relieved of his duties cannot explain away such lamentable performances as the one they turned in at Ibrox to remain down among the most serious strugglers in the top flight, according to the Scotland forward.

“I wouldn’t say it’s confusion. Our job is to do it on the pitch and it’s not happening,” said Naismith. “That is what it is. That doesn’t change for a player. Austin is taking the team at the moment and we go out and try and do as a group what him and the coaching staff want us to do.

“Today’s performance was not down to who was in charge. The team as a whole wasn’t good enough and didn’t defend well enough and that was the problem today.

“The clarity will come when it comes. The club has made the point pretty clear that they are going to look for the right man rather than just a shotgun reaction to try to get someone in quick.

“We have enough experience in the squad that should be able to deal with this.

“The games between now and Christmas will determine what happens this season for us as a club. As players we need to fight for the chances we get. But what the squad need to understand is that whatever manager is linked with this or interested is going to be watching these games.

“It’s not as if they are going to turn up on day one without an idea on the squad. Whether that happens this week or next the players should be on their toes already.”

Despite growing evidence to