Hearts chief executive ‘confident’ of top six finish

Chief executive Andrew McKinlay is adamant that Hearts will soon move off the bottom of the Scottish Premiership and will end the season in the top six.

Having taken just 10 points from their first 15 league matches, the Edinburgh side trail sixth-placed St Mirren by eight points.

When asked about the prospect of relegation following the Tynecastle club’s annual general meeting, McKinlay replied: “I am not even using that word. I am confident we will finish in the top six.

“When you look at the league, it’s very tight. With the fixtures we have coming up, I think we have an opportunity to get up the table.

“First get ourselves into the top six and we will see what’s before us at that point.”

Hearts, who finished third last term, sacked Steven Naismith as head coach in September following a run of eight successive defeats.

His replacement, Neil Critchley, has won three of 10 matches in all competitions and has been told funds will be made available to strengthen the squad in January.

Out of contract in the summer, captain Lawrence Shankland will be free to talk to other clubs next month.

McKinlay said he had “no idea” if the Scotland striker would be sold, adding: “I’ve put it on record that my gut has always been that he’ll run down his contract.”