Tynecastle boss Robbie is expecting Stevenson to report for pre-season
ROBBIE NEILSON has told disaffected Hearts star Ryan Stevenson that he will be expected to report for pre-season training next month. Stevenson posted what was effectively a farewell message to the club after meeting the new director of football Craig Levein on Monday morning, stating: ‘I’m totally shattered that I’ll be leaving Hearts’.
The 29-year-old was understood to have been disappointed at Levein’s refusal to honour a promise made by the club’s former manager, Gary Locke, relating to an improvement in his contract terms.
Stevenson took a wage cut when the club fell into administration last year but expected a rise when Hearts were restored to financial health.
However, with Locke gone in the wake of Ann Budge’s takeover, Stevenson has been told there is no extra money on the table and he is understood to be exploring his right to act on a break clause in his contract which can be activated if he finds a new club.
If that doesn’t happen, the new head coach expects him to report back to Riccarton after the summer break.
‘Ryan’s still a Hearts player,’ said Neilson. ‘We had a conversation on Monday about his contractual situation. It’s his decision what he wants to do but he’s still a Hearts player and an important part of the squad.
‘I’ve a good relationship with Ryan, I speak to him a lot and if he’s willing to accept his contract, he’ll come back. It’s difficult.’
Along with goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald and midfielder Jamie Hamill, Stevenson was one of three senior pros who guided Hearts’ young
team through last season. Both MacDonald and Hamill have been released but Neilson believes Stevenson still has something to offer in the Championship.
‘I think he could do that if he wants to, but the ball’s in his court,’ added Neilson. ‘If he wants to come back, then great.
‘But there is a contractual situation with us being in the Championship. He’s played there, he’s scored there, so if he’s willing to come down to it then great.’
Despite releasing MacDonald and Hamill, Neilson says experience will still be important next season.
‘I was very lucky that the team I played in was full of characters — Craig Gordon, Takis Fyssas, Steven Pressley, Andy Webster, Paul Hartley, Rudi Skacel and Edgaras Jankauskas,’ he said.
‘It’s no surprise to me that the majority are taking steps towards coaching or management.
‘Although everything was chaotic, they kept the squad together. If I could get five or six in that category, great. We might not get the ability, but if we can get characters like that it will help.’
Both Gordon and Skacel happen to be free agents at the moment, with the former, in particular, a likely signing target.
The one-time Scotland No1 has been training with Rangers in recent months after recovering from a knee injury. Itching to play again, the 31-year-old could be in line for a return to the club he departed in a £9million transfer to Sunderland in 2007.
Neilson added: ‘We’ll need to discuss precisely who we bring in because, if you are talking about Craig Gordon, for instance, or guys of that kind of level in the Championship, they would need to want to come here and play in front of 14,000 and use it as platform to take the club and their career forward.’