THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN
Reunion with boss Neilson was right move for Gordon as the pair aim to resurrect Hearts
THE signing of Craig Gordon has furnished returning Hearts manager Robbie Neilson with a goalkeeper he can rely on. The feeling is 100-per-cent mutual. When Gordon broke into the Hearts team some 17 years ago, Neilson was an obvious role model, a fellow academy graduate who performed consistently and endured despite the club pursuing an intense strategy of player recruitment.
Gordon’s big break-out moment came in an away win over Bordeaux in the UEFA Cup in 2003. Aided by Neilson’s usual diligence at right-back, he kept a clean sheet against the likes of Marouane Chamakh, later of Arsenal, and Jean-Claude Darcheville, who would help fire Rangers to the final of the same tournament four years later.
Three years later, the pair picked up the first winners’ medals of their careers and this time it was Neilson who performed the heroics with a performance that stood out in a mediocre team display in the 2006 Scottish Cup final against Gretna.
A missile of a long throw assisted Rudi Skacel for the opening goal and his goal-saving tackle prevented
David Graham slotting into an empty net after the Gretna striker had rounded Gordon.
Neilson’s conversion and Gordon’s save from Derek Townsley in the shoot-out helped ensure the trophy made its way back to Edinburgh.
Regardless of Neilson’s surprise flight from promoted Dundee United to take charge of his old club for the second time, Gordon would probably have re-signed.
But the news that Neilson was also returning to Georgie made the decision even easier.
‘As a player, Robbie was very dependable,’ said Gordon. ‘He was very steady and he very rarely made a mistake.
‘He was one of those players you could rely on if the ball was coming over to the back post, he would be tucked in to head it away. He was very good positionally and would always do what was necessary for the team’s needs.
‘You take that out and put it into a managerial situation, those are great qualities to have — someone who is dependable, organised and there when you need him.
‘From very early on I thought he would make that step into management and he’s been very successful. I’m sure he’ll continue the work he started a few years ago.’
The fact both Neilson and Gordon were prepared to commit to Hearts in advance of Wednesday’s first hearing at the Court of Session speaks of not only a shared connection to the club, but also a confidence in its future prospects.
Having guided United to the Championship title, few expected Neilson to do anything other than stay to enjoy the Tannadice club’s return to the top flight.
Gordon, meanwhile, could have led a comfortable existence as a back-up keeper at Celtic or indeed accepted an offer from St Mirren to play in the Premiership.
‘I spoke to Robbie on the phone for about 20 minutes and he told me he sees this as the start of a new project,’ said Gordon. ‘That’s what I wanted, to come into something right at the beginning.
‘Robbie wants to put his stamp on it and he wants to be part of it. As soon as we had that chat, I realised this is what I want to do.’
From very early on, I did think he would make the step up to manager
For Neilson, there must also be a sense of deja vu. It was Ann Budge who handed him his first role as head coach six years ago and the brief was essentially the same — restore a wounded club to the top tier of Scottish football at the first attempt.
On that occasion he did so, winning the Championship with room to spare, despite the high level of competition in the division from Hibernian, Rangers and even Falkirk, who made the Scottish Cup final that season.
With second-tier clubs facing a reduced 27-game season and adjusting their budgets accordingly, Hearts’ status as favourites this season will be overwhelming.
Although Budge has imposed wage cuts, the Hearts squad remains strong and packed full of current and past internationals.
‘Hearts is a huge club, this is all temporary,’ said Gordon. ‘We want to build something really strong and the people are in place to do that.
‘The structure of the club is looking really strong, the fan base is huge. The way they support this club and have done over the last number of years, the Foundation of Hearts and the backing they have given through difficult times — I don’t think you’d find that in too many places.
‘This club means a great deal to a lot of people and for anybody thinking of joining Hearts I think this is a great time to come in.’
After losing his place to Fraser Forster at Parkhead last August, Gordon saw his Scotland prospects suffer a similar fate.
The delayed start to the new Championship season may make it a stretch to earn a place in Steve Clarke’s squad for the Euro 2020 play-off against Israel in early October but if that Hampden hurdle is cleared, the team will then face an all-or-nothing test against Norway or Serbia a month later.
Gordon would love to be involved. By extension, he also has a craving to finally experience a major tournament. With John Souttar and Steven Naismith also. at Tynecastle, he knows he won’t be the only Hearts player nursing such ambitions.
‘When you look at the Hearts squad there is some great quality there,’ he noted. ‘And yes, I think there will be guys looking to give themselves an opportunity to get back into that squad. Especially with everything that Scotland has coming up. The opportunity to play in a major finals and play in some really big games is exciting.
‘But it’s not just Scotland. Others in this squad have opportunities and international managers are going to be looking at Hearts. Because the quality is still there.
‘In the short term, coming here makes it more difficult but in the long term it doesn’t. Obviously, the national manager will need to take a view on that over the next few months. But being here at Hearts for the next few years, hopefully I can play many games and attract his attention enough to get back in.’
At club level, Gordon insists Hearts will have no trouble finding motivation for a season in the second tier. The decision of member clubs to end the season early and promote and relegate on a points-per-game basis in response to coronavirus has left a bitter taste.
Gordon added: ‘The motivation will be there. There is going to be a lot of bad blood in Scottish football for years to come on the back of this.
‘We must now use this to bring everybody together — fans, players and everybody connected to make sure we get back where we want to be. That’s at the very top end of the Premiership.
‘I find it absolutely incredible that Scottish football couldn’t come together and help each other out.
‘I really cannot fathom how that was not possible in this time. All around the world, there is so much going on and we couldn’t even sort out our football.’