ROBBIE Neilson knows Hearts cannot compete with Celtic’s spending power – but hopes the full Jambos package will land him the players he needs to topple the Hoops.
The Parkhead outfit underlined their domestic superiority with Sunday’s dominant display against Rangers in the Betfred Cup semi-finals.
Neilson’s men have, however, proved that they can run the champions close after a narrow defeat on the opening day of the campaign.
But the head coach wants Hearts to have higher ambitions than giving the Glasgow giants the odd fright.
And with the Gorgie side now able to access training facilities at the new Oriam centre at Heriot-Watt University and construction of a new main stand at Tynecastle due to begin in just over a month’s time, Neilson reckons the future looks promising.
Neilson said: “Everyone hopes to make a sustained challenge. That’s what we’re aiming for.
“We’re already looking at the January window and thinking about where we can make the squad better.
“It’s difficult challenging against Celtic. Just look at the size of their squad and the revenue they get. They get £20-odd million from the Champions League.
“They are buying guys for £3million, £4million, £5million and our job is to compete with them – but we feel we can do it.
“We’re not going to go out and buy a guy for £3million and pay them £40,000 a week.
“We have to make sure we recruit well, grow slowly and eventually overtake them.
“We have the best training facility in Scotland by a country mile now.
“We fly guys in to show them this fantastic facility from Edinburgh Airport, which is 10 minutes away.
“We take them to the stadium which is getting redeveloped. We then take them to the city centre which is lovely.
“So the whole package is there. It’s just the finances which are not – but we hope over time that will come.”
Football: Scots can win at Wembley, insists Sir Alex ferguson
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here