Naismith reflects on his time as Tynecastle gaffer

Steven Naismith has opened up on his 14-month tenure in charge of Hearts and admitted mistakes were made but also that plenty positive work took place.

- by Barry Anderson

Naismith is now preparing for Scotland’s World Cup opener against Haiti as assistant to national coach Steve Clarke, but he reflected on his time at Tynecastle Park in an in-depth interview.

Hearts appointed their B team coach Naismith — then 36 — as interim manager after sacking Robbie Neilson in April 2023. Naismith then took charge permanently that summer and guided the club to third place in the Scottish Premiership as they finished 12 points ahead of Kilmarnock in fourth. That secured European football, however a run of eight straight defeats saw Naismith sacked in September 2024, with Hearts bottom of the league.

The 39-year-old admitted he was naive at times in what was his first senior management job. In particular, he felt recruitment was too slow at times, but he stressed that finishing third and reaching both the League Cup semi-final and Scottish Cup final were evidence of progress. He also experienced the early working relationship between Hearts and their data recruitment partner, Jamestown Analytics.

“The situation going in, it was going to be tough but I thought I was ready for it. I don’t think anything does really prepare you for management,” said Naismith on The Warm Up. “What you think is going to happen and what it can be like, there is nothing that can compare to it.”

Asked if he would have preferred a job at a smaller club before stepping up to Hearts, Naismith replied. “I don’t because of what I had and the intensity. I think you could have had an easier route if you go to a club lower down, but I think if that doesn’t go well you are going to really struggle.