Latest news with #McInnes
Scotsman
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
New Hearts signings join a 'huge operation'
Derek McInnes is preparing for season 2025/26 in the Scottish Premiership Sign up to our Hearts newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Six new signings so far with more to come. It has been a busy and productive summer transfer window at Hearts, who depart for a week-long pre-season training camp in Spain on Saturday. Head coach Derek McInnes has welcomed recruits from across Europe, with various new accents heard echoing along Riccarton's corridors. Importantly, they all speak English and are being integrated into Edinburgh life as part of Hearts' operation. That operation is a sizeable one, McInnes noted. He is still familiarising himself with new work colleagues a month after leaving Kilmarnock. He will take 28 players to Spain and all six new signings are due to travel - Norwegian right-back Christian Borchgrevink, Greek winger Alexandros Kyziridis, Belgian striker Elton Kabangu, Irish midfielder Oisin McEntee, Portuguese striker Claudio Braga and Scottish centre-back Stuart Findlay. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Kazakhstan international winger Islam Chesnokov has agreed a pre-contract with Hearts and the Edinburgh club would like to sign him in a permanent transfer before the summer window closes. There may be one or two additional signings thereafter, but that could depend on which players leave. McInnes took charge of a 31-man first-team squad at the start of pre-season, including the new arrivals. 'Everyone has settled in well, they all speak good English and are interacting brilliantly,' said the manager. 'The communication is vital, especially in key positions on the pitch. From a recruitment perspective, it's something we spoke about and from a Hearts point of view it's something we wanted to be a key part of it with the players we signed from outside the UK. 'Footballers are footballers, they're normally good lads who enjoy being about their team-mates. They set about their training with enthusiasm and vigour. Each and every one of them has brought something different. Like every dressing-room, some are brighter and bubblier than others but everyone has settled well. Banking and housing for new signings as the Scottish football season 2025/26 nears 'The club has been brilliant helping them settle, helping them with their accommodation, bank accounts, helping them with their families and that sort of stuff. It's a time where players have to be really selfish and focused on getting fit. They have to be single-minded but the club is great at taking care of the other stuff. We are just accelerating their work, putting demands on them, so that integration is essential.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Hearts' expansion in recent years involves greater staff numbers at Riccarton, but McInnes is aware of the club's ultimate priority. 'This club is a big operation,' he added. 'We are part of it here at Oriam. There's the women's team, there's the academy, there's under-18s, there's the B team, it's a huge organisation. Everyone's job is better at Hearts, everyone's life is easier if the first team is winning so we need to make sure we get a winning team on the pitch. I am not surprised by the stature of Hearts, it's what I expected.'
Daily Record
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Lawrence Shankland won't start pre season with Hearts as transfer exit fears rise after fresh Tynecastle talks
The Scotland international has yet to make a decision on his future after the end of his Gorgie contract Derek McInnes has been forced to leave it to Hearts' hierarchy to make one last push in their bid to keep Lawrence Shankland. The Jambos gaffer hoped to have an answer from the club's former captain on his future by Saturday - when his squad fly to Spain for pre-season training. Shankland is still weighing up whether to stay at Tynecastle or move on, with interest from clubs in England and abroad. But Record Sport understands that after fresh talks with the Scotland striker on Tuesday night, he WON'T be on the plane to Spain. That means McInnes is now praying that Hearts chiefs can somehow thrash out a deal with the 29-year-old in his absence and persuade Shankland to re-sign. The manager is now fully focused on the players he does have at his disposal as he gears up for the Premier Sports Cup group phase and the Premiership kick-off. McInnes said this week the club wouldn't wait forever on Shankland making up his mind and if he rejected the deal - he would start looking for a replacement centre-forward. The Scotland front-man has been training on his own in Dubai over the summer after his contract expired in Gorgie. And he was keen to consider Hearts' latest, improved offer especially after McInnes took over as boss. Hearts haven't given up hope of Shankland staying - but missing out on the Jambos' pre-season trip means it's increasingly unlikely.
Scotsman
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Hearts name their 28-man squad for Spain - new signings and Lawrence Shankland contract latest
EFL opponents for new Tynecastle head coach Derek McInnes Sign up to our Hearts newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Hearts fly out to Spain early on Saturday morning for a week-long pre-season training camp and have named a 28-man travelling squad. As expected, Lawrence Shankland is not included as he is out of contract, although he remains in talks with the club about a potential new deal. New manager Derek McInnes takes the team to south-east Spain for warm-weather training in temperatures which could touch 35 degrees next week. Hearts will play English League Two club Crawley Town during the trip before travelling back to Scotland on Saturday, 5 July. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Edinburgh club's first competitive match of McInnes' reign is against Dunfermline Athletic in the Premier Sports Cup at Tynecastle Park on Saturday, 12 July. By then, players will have been working under new management for more than three weeks, but much of the proper hard graft is due to take place over the next week in south-east Spain. The full 28-man Hearts squad is listed below, with Shankland a notable absentee. He is open to the prospect of re-signing at Hearts and has held several rounds of talks with McInnes, who is eager to keep him. So far, there has been no agreement. Tynecastle officials have made it clear that they will not wait indefinitely for the Scotland internationalist and will explore other options in an effort to add another striker to their squad for the season ahead. Other absentees from the Spanish trip are goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who is still recovering from a shoulder injury, and forward Kenneth Vargas, who is on international duty with Costa Rica at the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Youngsters travelling are defender Adam Forrester, midfielder Aidan Denholm, striker James Wilson and goalkeeper Harry Stone. All six of Hearts' new signings are also included. Hearts squad travelling to Spain: Frankie Kent Stephen Kingsley Craig Halkett Jamie McCart Beni Baningime Elton Kabangu Calem Nieuwenhof Claudio Braga Christian Borchgrevink Cammy Devlin Michael Steinwender Blair Spittal Alan Forrest Harry Milne Stuart Findlay Yan Dhanda James Wilson Aidan Denholm Lewis Neilson Sander Kartum Zander Clark James Penrice Ryan Fulton Oisin McEntee Adam Forrester Musa Drammeh Harry Stone Alexandros Kyziridis More to follow.... 'We're still trying to bring in a couple of players in key positions,' explained McInnes. 'In certain areas, we've got more than enough. In defence, we look really strong and have options. We've got size, experience and good athleticism in those areas. I've made it clear I'm looking for a wide-right player, that's no secret. Looking at the players we've got, it's about who can fit into how we want to play. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I don't think we've got too much to do. I have a lot of good players in the building. It's hard to make quick assessments in a few days. Normally a manager will say it's a clean slate for everyone and I feel the players are facing that. They're trying to show me they have a part to play. But decisions on a few of them will have to be accelerated clearly if I'm bringing another couple in. The squad will then be too heavy, so those conversations will be for Spain and beyond. Right now, everyone has a chance and an opportunity to be here.'
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Derek McInnes makes early Hearts confession as he looks to avoid familiar Kilmarnock 'strain'
The Jambos' boss is looking towards the campaign and what will help the Jambos' get off to the perfect start Derek McInnes would love nothing more than to have a Hearts Euro adventure to look forward to. But the Tynecastle gaffer admits their failure to qualify this season could HELP his bid to get them off to a flier domestically. McInnes has been hired as Neil Critchley's replacement in Gorgie after they finished in the bottom half of the Scottish Premiership last term. That means no European football for the new boss, which he's gutted about. But having been there with Kilmarnock a year ago, he's realistic enough to know that having a clear run at the Premier Sports Cup group phase - as well as the league - could be beneficial as they look to hit the ground running. McInnes said: 'I'd rather have to deal with European fixtures, the congestion and all the disruption that can cause. 'That's what I want us to be and where I want us to be. But unfortunately, we've got to look from the outside in this season. 'And when you don't have European football to contend with, it's important you try to make hay at the start of the season and get off to a strong start. 'At Killie, there's no doubt that we suffered a wee bit last season. There are many advantages if you're playing in Europe. 'But I think, from a new manager's point of view, just focusing on one game a week can help. 'Europe does put strain on you and unless you've got a really strong squad to deal with it, it can cause you issues. If you are playing Saturday, Thursday, Sunday, your opponents domestically are focusing solely on you - whereas you are only turning your eyes to them on Friday. 'The team you are up against, unless they are in Europe, always have an advantage.' Before league business starts, McInnes and his team must navigate a League Cup group stage that features games against Dunfermline, Hamilton, Stirling Albion and Dumbarton. And the manager insists he'll be playing the strongest team he's got ahead of the Premiership kick-off. He said: 'I will play the best team possible. I might have the luxury of being able freshen the team up but there will be no playing about with the team – it will be the strongest Hearts team in every game." You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also on WhatsApp, where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to your phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Derek McInnes conscious of Hearts pressure to deliver silverware amid mystery over injured defender
McInnes hopes to end Hearts' 13-year trophy drought Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Not since the beginning of the 2020-21 season, in what proved to be Derek McInnes' final campaign in charge of Aberdeen, has the new Hearts manager felt a certain pressure to win some silverware. His time at Kilmarnock did involve winning a cup, but that was the Championship trophy and the Rugby Park side had been favourites to win promotion in any case. Once in the Premiership, their focus was initially on staying up and then when they did this, McInnes exceeded expectations by reaching Europe the following season. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Now at Tynecastle, as it was at Pittodrie, things are different. This is is especially the case given the news on Wednesday that Brighton & Hove Albion owner Tony Bloom's near £10 million investment in Hearts is now complete. The billionaire has reiterated his intention to 'disrupt' the pattern of domination in Scottish football which most people have interpreted as seeking to challenge Celtic and Rangers - and Aberdeen - for honours. Hearts head coach Derek McInnes during a training session at the Oriam this week. (Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group) | SNS Group It's not simply a case of 'over to you Derek'. In view of the way Hearts are intending to operate, several people, including sporting director Graeme Jones, will have a say in what the first-team looks like. However, as it always does, the buck stops with the manager – or head coach, as McInnes is officially titled. 'I feel there is a pressure to deliver,' he said, when the prospect of winning silverware, with Hearts having not won anything since the Scottish Cup win over rivals Hibs in 2012, was put to him. 'I feel there has to be a sense that what we are serving up is better than what is expected.' In a way McInnes has arrived at Hearts at a good time. Even if he leads the team to the top half of the table, he will have improved on the previous season. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I am conscious we have come from being a bottom-six team,' he said. 'We have not made a cup final, we have not made Europe. So we have to make sure those improvements are obvious to everyone. 'Hopefully that plays out in terms of silverware. How you judge success can be gauged on so many levels, whether it is more value on the pitch, more revenue, qualification for Europe. I am no different to supporters, real success and tangible success is silverware. It is something I am well aware is expected of us going forward.' Managers often like to build from the back when putting their stamp on a team. McInnes has already added centre-half Stuart Findlay, who he knows from Kilmarnock days. Findlay has signed another loan agreement from Oxford United for the duration of the 2025-26 season. New signing Stuart Findlay during a Hearts training session at the Oriam this week. (Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group) | SNS Group McInnes intends to keep left-back/centre-half Stephen Kingsley, who has been linked with moves away. But he admits eleven defenders, as it stands, might be excessive. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I'm just wanting to work with good players,' he said. 'Stephen's a player that I think has got a lot to offer. Including young Lewis Neilson, I've got eleven defenders across the squad. It's probably one or two too many in terms of when the window closes, but you don't know every eventuality. We've already picked up one wee injury to a defender at the minute, so you never know how these things go.'
