Hearts boss opens up on futures of 7 out-of-contract players
Critchley talks about the future of goalkeepers and relaxed on the Shankland problem.
Despite much speculation surrounding his future off the pitch, Hearts head coach Neil Critchley insists his main goal is to get the most out of captain and star striker Lawrence Shankland on the pitch.
There is no immediate chance that the 29-year-old’s contract with Hearts will be renewed; it expires at the end of the current campaign. Critchley wants to keep getting goals out of the Scotland striker, who has acknowledged that leaving Tynecastle in June is a very real possibility. Shankland tripled his season total with a double against Dundee in the team’s 2-0 victory against them over the weekend.
Critchley stated, “Obviously, that’s between Lawrence and the club.” Everyone is aware that he will be out of contract in the summer and that his contract is expiring. Although I am aware that there were discussions before I arrived, I have clearly been focussing on helping Lawrence regain his form over the past few seasons.
Perhaps he needs to give his goalkeepers’ future more immediate consideration. Critchley said in an interview with the Edinburgh Evening News that he had discussed Gordon and Clark with new sporting director Graeme Jones.
Yes, there is a dilemma between Zander and Craigie, and I have recently been talking to Graeme about it. That’s for the club and for Graeme, respectively. “They are aware of my thoughts,” Critchley continued.
“Zander is a wonderful man and a top professional. He is a No. 1 and is sad not to be playing, but I must stress that his daily training and behaviour around the group are excellent. We should thus talk about that in the future.
