Neilson pleads with fans to see ‘bigger picture’ for Hearts
ROBBIE NEILSON has urged the Hearts supporters to reflect on the ‘bigger picture’ after insisting John Souttar will remain a key member of his side for as long as he stays at the club.
Souttar is expected to face an angry backlash from some fans at this evening’s game against St Johnstone after penning a pre-contract agreement with Rangers on Friday.
Neilson understands the frustration of the Gorgie faithful, that such an important figure is to join a rival side in the Scottish Premiership.
However, as his team attempts to hold on to their current third spot and secure lucrative European qualification, the Tynecastle manager is a adamant he will not bow to those who want Souttar to be frozen out should he see out the campaign in maroon.
“John will be part of the squad going forward. Nothing has changed in that,” he said. “It’s important we focus on the club and driving forward. No player will ever be bigger than the club. People will come and go, it’s about the team performing and picking up three points to progress.
“John has signed a pre-contract elsewhere but at this moment he is a Hearts player. We have to utilise him as much as we can. The football club is bigger than any player. The focus for us is, can we maintain our form, can we get European football and then take the club forward?
“Hopefully John will play a part in that. How big a part is dependent on what happens this month. He is still one of our main players.
“I can understand the disappointment. We have a disappointment in here as well. As a fanbase and a club, we have to make sure we look at the bigger picture. That is to support the team to push forward and try to get European football.
“I understand the frustration but the most important thing for us is three points on Tuesday night.”
After Craig Levein alluded to a family illness informing the player’s decision to join Rangers, Neilson said it would not be ‘right’ for him to comment on Souttar’s personal circumstances. However, he
insists he was kept informed throughout by Souttar of developments in his discussions with other clubs. The question now will be whether Rangers decide further negotiations with Hearts over an earlier switch are worthwhile.
“John signed a pre-contract but there has been no offer for him, so there isn’t a decision to be made at this moment,” added Neilson, who will again be without the injured midfielder Beni Baningime. “If and when an offer comes in, then there’s a decision to make.
“At this point, John has signed a pre-contract and will stay here ‘til the summer. He will be utilised as best we can to make sure we perform as best we can and get into Europe.”
The first test of that strategy, and of the supporters’ patience or otherwise, will come on the resumption of the on-field action against the Premiership’s bottom club, St Johnstone, where manager Callum Davidson wants his side to get back to basics.
Saints were in freefall before the winter break, losing eight in a row in all competitions to slump to the bottom of the table, two points behind Dundee.
Davidson expects to have new signings Nadir Ciftci, Dan Cleary and Tony Gallacher available for the trip to Gorgie as the Perth club look to resurrect their league season.
He said: “For me it is about doing the basics really well. It is something I believe we haven’t done well enough this season.
“There have been too many times on the defensive side, not just the defenders, right throughout the team, that we have probably been a little bit slack in not doing the right things.”