Hearts CEO Andrew McKinlay: Team will get better and better under Neil Critchley

Chief executive Andrew McKinlay is adamant Hearts are heading on “a great journey” with Neil Critchley as head coach.

The Englishman was appointed as Steven Naismith’s successor in October when the Tynecastle side were two points adrift at the foot of the William Hill Premiership with just two points from eight games.

Although they remain in 11th place, Critchley has moved Hearts nine points clear of last-placed St Johnstone and within five points of the top six with six wins and four draws from his 15 league matches in charge.

It has not been all plain sailing for the former Blackpool and QPR boss, with a 2-2 home draw against Moldovan minnows Petrocub that cost the Edinburgh side progression from the Conference League group stage and a home defeat by city rivals Hibernian counting as obvious blemishes.

But McKinlay expects Hearts to excel as Critchley gets more time to shape the squad the way he wants with the aid of Tony Bloom’s Jamestown Analytics software.

“Neil brings something different and he is someone I really like a lot,” the CEO said in an interview with Hearts TV. “One thing I do understand is he is an exceptional football coach.

“I think as we get better players and he gets more time with players – because he’s not been able to get a huge amount of time with players because of all the midweek games – I think we’re going to see the team just get better and better under Neil.

“What a great journey I think we’re going to go on with him.”

Hearts have already signed defender Jamie McCart and striker Elton Kabangu, and McKinlay – who said talks about potential investment from Brighton owner Bloom continue to progress “positively” – confirmed there are likely to be “a couple more” new arrivals this month.

“I’m expecting us to do one or two more and any more than that may depend on movement the other way,” he said. “But I certainly expect us to do a couple more.

“I think we do have to be cognisant of the fact that we are carrying too big a squad so, ideally, we would like more to move out.”

Some supporters groups tried to organise protests against Hearts’ board last month amid the team’s struggles, with chair Ann Budge the main target of their ire.

“I will always uphold people’s rights to protest,” said McKinlay. “I have no issue with people singing ‘sack the board’ either if that’s what they feel.

“What I don’t think is appropriate or should be tolerated is singing about individuals in an abusive manner or being abusive to any individuals to their face or otherwise.

“It wouldn’t be accepted in any other area of life and it shouldn’t be accepted within football. I totally get the frustrations of the fans.”

McKinlay was “hugely disappointed” that news of a release clause in midfielder Cammy Devlin’s contract was leaked to a journalist and published last week.

“There are a lot of people involved in these sorts of deals, any of whom could have leaked it or could have spoken to someone else,” he said.

“From a journalist’s perspective, I totally understand they have a job to do. I think what happened last week, though, stepped over a line.

“It stepped into an area of commercially confidential information, which is unlawful to actually disclose that sort of information. And my view is that should never have been made public.

“To release something like that could cause huge detriment to the club and it’s hugely disappointing.”