Hearts extend Steven Naismith contract as head coach

Heart of Midlothian have agreed contract extensions with head coach Steven Naismith and his backroom team.

The Scottish Premiership club have taken up the option to add an extra year – until summer 2026 – to the deals with 37-year-old former Scotland striker and coaches Gordon Forrest, Frankie McAvoy and Paul Gallacher.

And Naismith said the new deals were a reward for the team’s improvement on and off the training pitch.

“It’s a reward for the success we have had, and probably the things people don’t see behind the scenes,” Naismith said.

“There has been loads of progress. The way the deal was structured at the start this was something that could always happen. It’s been a good fit in our first year.

“Even when I was a player, and you know you are going down this route, you start to think who you would have working with you. Right from the off Frankie [McAvoy] and Gordy [Forrest] were guys who were high on my list.”