Levein calls for patience as he predicts bright Hearts future

IT was never going to be an easy year for Craig Levein with the Hearts boss having to continue slashing the wage bill while trying to maintain a league challenge. But after a campaign of fluctuating fortunes on and off the field, the Jambos’ report card would probably read: "Must do better."

A top-six place was secured for the second year in succession, Hearts the only team outside the Old Firm to achieve such a feat since the revolutionary split was introduced in Scotland.

However, the Gorgie outfit demonstrated an alarming knack of hitting the heights one week, only to plumb the depths seven days later.

Levein was delighted at his team’s ability to go away from home and produce the goods, but the side’s failure to perform in front of the Gorgie faithful on a regular basisdrove him to distraction at times.

Two home defeats to Dundee United and a woeful display in crashing 3-1 to St Johnstone in the Capital dealt serious blows to any aspirations the team may have had of qualifying for Europe.

And while the ultimate failure to snatch a UEFA Cup spot courtesy of a fourth-place finish was a disappointment for the Hearts boss, the lowest point came in January when Inverness Caley Thistle arrived on Tennent’s Scottish Cup duty and duly shot down any hopes the home side may have had of an extended run in the competition. It was the manner of the defeat from Steve Paterson’s troops which incensed Levein, the 3-1 victory being no more than the men from the Highlands deserved .

The loss meant a second cup exit at the hands of lower division opposition during the season, Ross County having bundled Hearts out of the CIS Cup after a penalty shoot-out in Dingwall four months earlier.

"Both cup competitions were disappointing from our perspective," said Levein, "but the loss at home to Inverness in the Scottish Cup was a real downer.

"In fact, one of the most disappointing aspects of the season was our home form, particularly in the second half of the campaign.

"I am at a loss to explain why but it is something which we will have to improve on - that and continuing our impressive form away from Tynecastle."

Colin Cameron grabbed the Jambos’ first goal of the season towards the end of July but it was not enough to prevent Livingston marking their first game in the SPL with a 2-1 win at Almondvale.

The Scotland star went on to find the target twice in the next three games but soon found himself pursuing his career south of the border with Hearts accepting a £1.75 million bid from Wolves.

Seeing their influential skipper depart was a huge blow for the fans, although the club made clear at the time that Cameron had always made clear his intention to move to England at some point.

Spanish ace Juanjo also found new employers with former Hearts manager Jim Jefferies taking the tricky wide man to Bradford.

The absence of the dynamic Cameron was compounded by the loss of Robert Tomaschek, the Slovakian ruled out for eight months after suffering a serious cruciate ligament injury against Celtic at Parkhead.

The situation saw youngster Stephen Simmons propelled into the limelight and it was the need to use some of the less experienced players such as Andy Webster which contributed to the inconsistencies throughout the season.

Other injuries to strikers Andy Kirk, Stephane Adam and captain Steven Pressley would undermine the Jambos’ cause during the campaign but the arrival of Jamaican striker Ricardo Fuller brought a real lift to Tynecastle.

The front man arrived on loan from Tivoli Gardens in October to swell the number of new signings after the arrivals of Alan Maybury and Stephane Mahe, and after a slow start he soon became a real fans’ favourite.

A rich vein of scoring form from the 22-year-old around Christmas helped the Jambos go on an unbeaten run of seven matches and laid the foundations for a top-six finish, although they ultimately left themselves with too much to do as regards European qualification.

"I wasn’t really expecting that at the start of the season and the players did well to keep going as they did," he said.

A prime example of the Jambos’ season came in March when they won at Motherwell, Robert Sloan netting his goal for the club, only to crash to defeat at home to United the following week.

Seven days later, though, and that horror was all but forgotten as captain courageous Steven Pressley converted a late penalty at Easter Road to give Levein his first derby triumph as a manager.

That should have been the catalyst for a strong finish to the season but a week later came the embarrassment against the Saints.

"The derby win against Hibs was important as we had gone through a little spell of not beating them," he said. "We have to try to build on that next season and try to get the upper hand in the derbies."

The closing stages of the season were played out against a backdrop of real uncertainty with ambitious plans for SPL TV vetoed by the Old Firm, the failure to secure money from a television deal and its ramifications throwing clubs’ budgets into turmoil.

Levein found himself unable to offer attractive enough contracts to 1998 Scottish Cup heroes Thomas Flogel and Stephane Adam, the pair making their final bow in Sunday’s game against Livingston.

The cash crisis affecting the game in Scotland has also meant the likes of out-of-contract stars Steve Fulton, Tommi Gronlund, Kenny Milne and Tomaschek have all started their summer holidays not knowing if any new deals will be forthcoming.

It is looking ever more likely that Levein will have to rely on youth next term and he has again urged the fans to be patient.

"These are difficult times for clubs and people have to have a reality check," he said. "It is important they support us and don’t have a go and pick faults.

"The fans have been spoiled by success recently and their expectations have to be tempered a bit.

"We were able to bring the likes of Joe Hamill, Graham Weir, Ryan Davidson, Paul McMullan and Robert Sloan into the first team and they showed they won’t be in awe next season.

"But the fans need to appreciate that the confidence of younger players can be easily shattered. They are not as thick skinned as the older professionals and need to be supported accordingly.

"All things considered, it wasn’t a good season but it wasn’t disastrous either.

"And I believe there are exciting times ahead with our younger players but patience will be the key word for everybody."