SPORT CATHRO VOW

Hearts boss insists better days lie ahead

IAN CATHRO made his way to the Hearts fans when the final whistle blew at Ibrox yesterday to issue a personal promise of improvement after kicking off his reign as the club’s head coach with a 2-0 defeat to Rangers.

Goals either side of half-time from Rob Kiernan and Barrie McKay consolidated Rangers’ Premiership position in second place and consigned Tynecastle’s new boss (pictured) to an unhappy beginning. The 30-year-old made his way to the small pocket of travelling supporters and could be seen and heard shouting a message of hope.

‘It’s important they know that is not going to be what is on the grass for them,’ explained Cathro afterwards. ‘We will be better. The team in the dressing-room is better than what was on the pitch today. ‘I want the fans to know that. I don’t want to be passing out the card that we need time because I believe there’s a good team there.

‘It’s not a dramatic day by any means. It’s a game which could have gone better but there is no disaster. Just a game we need to learn from and improve from.’

Cathro, who has no playing experience behind him, represents a striking appointment from the Hearts hierarchy in the wake of Robbie Neilson’s departure for MK Dons. The former Rio Ave and Valencia assistant remained calm throughout yesterday’s game but insists he absorbed a wealth of information from watching his players compete for the first time.

He added. ‘This first game put a little bit of extra pressure on everybody. Having it is a great thing and we must make sure we take maximum value out of it by quickly helping them (the players) improve.’