RYAN McGOWAN today proclaimed Hearts as Scotland's leading club for youth development after he and academy colleague Steven Husband both finalised long-term contract extensions.
At the team's pre-season base here in Germany, McGowan completed a new five-year deal with Husband signing for a further three years. The players are now tied to Tynecastle until 2013 and 2011 respectively.
McGowan's contract was agreed back in Ap
ril but is only now taking effect, providing vital security for the young Australian as he attempts to impress himself upon the first team. He made his debut in the final match of the season, a 1-0 defeat by Gretna at Fir Park, and is keen for greater exposure at the top level over the coming months.
Having watched academy products such as Christophe Berra, Andy Driver, Lee Wallace and Calum Elliot emerge as first-team regulars in recent seasons, the versatile defender believes Hearts' commitment to rearing their own players cannot be matched by any other SPL club.
"I would say yes, we are the club which plays the most young players," said McGowan, speaking exclusively to the Evening News on the day of Hearts' new home kit launch. "Considering the stature of the club, we have tended to bring the majority of our players through the youth system. As a young player, that's what you look for. You want to know the club will give you that chance if you do well.
"It's good to see others like Christophe and Andy Driver happy to stay on. The club is looking more towards the younger players, which is always a good thing in my position. Those two are probably the two biggest influences on us because they've gone on to do so well. There was speculation recently about them going to England and that's all you can look for as a young player. It just shows you what you can achieve if you follow that sort of path into the first team.
"My contract was agreed back in April and was pretty much done and dusted, it's just taking effect now. I'm happy here and the club was happy to extend my contract so it was really just a matter of where to sign. It gives me a bit of security and confidence that the club see me as a player for the future.
"I hope just to be more involved this season and push myself in. Hopefully I'll get more chances, maybe coming off the bench or even starting later on in the season. I just want to keep progressing as a player and try to force the new manager to play me." Husband explained his delight at securing a new deal despite not having appeared competitively for the first team.
"Last year was only my second year with Hearts and now I have another three years, so I'm really happy," he said. "I came from Cowdenbeath and to be told you're going with the first-team on a pre-season tour of Germany was crazy. The contract just tops it off."
Csaba Laszlo, the Hearts manager, added: "I am absolutely delighted that both players are staying at Hearts with us. I've said all along that the academy is the most important part of our club. We must see the best young players make the breakthrough. Both Ryan and Steven have done well on our trip in Germany and I am looking forward to seeing them make more progress in the season ahead."
Meanwhile, Calum Elliot's talks with MK Dons have stalled and the player has returned to Edinburgh. Inverness Caledonian Thistle remain interested in taking him north on a season-long loan.
The full article contains 619 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
