Steven Naismith admits the form that led to his dismissal as Hearts head coach simply wasn’t “good enough”, but expressed his gratitude for being handed the opportunity to lead the club.
Naismith, 38, was originally appointed as caretaker following Robbie Neilson’s departure in April 2023, before being handed the role on a permanent basis, and led Hearts to a third-place league finish last season.
However, he was sacked on Sunday after a run of eight successive defeats with Hearts bottom of the Scottish Premiership.
“I am disappointed that my time at Heart of Midlothian Football Club has come to an end,” Naismith said in a statement.
“This season has been a frustrating one for a number of reasons and ultimately it just hasn’t been good enough.
“When you’re at a big club with demands and expectations and you go on a bad run of form, pressure is always going to come.
“I would like to thank everyone associated with Heart of Midlothian. From my first day, I formed a strong connection with the club and all who work there, I knew, understood and appreciated the standards and demands of HMFC and this was something I constantly tried to uphold as a player and manager.
“The board put faith in me and gave me the opportunity to become a leader of the club and I am truly grateful for that.”
Naismith also insists the Hearts board are “the right people to guide the club” amid some criticism of their decisions, and expects the players to “fulfil their potential” as the season goes forward.
“I fully believe that this board are the right people to guide the club – I truly believe all they want is success,” he said.
“I also believe the club is very near to taking the next step and progressing to the next level continuing on the trajectory it has been on.
“In my opinion the squad of players has lots of potential, even though this season at times we have struggled to get going, I have confidence that they will fulfil their potential.
“The fans are a huge part of the football club and their work to secure control of the club is special. Hearts have many great people who follow the club every week, the desire for success is clear to see.
“I really do hope you get some special moments in the near future. Please understand the power of your support when used in the right way. Keep following and backing the players.”
