I WANT TO WIN LIKE WALTER.. I'LL START TODAY; Jeff vows to end trophy famine.

It came a day too early for Jim Jefferies. Beating Walter Smith to a trophy was down in his diary for Saturday and here it was happening on Friday.

The Hearts manager admitted to a sense of amazement that he was voted Scotland's Manager of the Year yesterday. The bottom line in football is trophy success and, as yet, Hearts have yet to smash that barrier.

They'll get another chance today, however, when his side bring the curtain down on the season in the Tennents Scottish Cup final.

This time Jefferies is determined his players will go the final yard that separates the nearly men from the winners. And he won't need to look far for inspiration.

The dugout 10 yards away on the opposite side of the Celtic Park tunnel will be full of them - with one man in particular the shining example to the Hearts manager.

Jefferies has already followed in Walter Smith's footsteps - the Ibrox manager was last year's top boss - now he feels his troops are ready to emulate Smith's success on the park.

On the eve of the cup final, Jefferies couldn't have looked more relaxed as he picked up his award at Tynecastle.

And he said: "His record speaks for itself and it's a privilege to follow in his footsteps. When you see some of the criticism levelled at Walter, it's quite incredible.

"Some people will say he's had millions to spend. But the only cause for criticism would have been if the players he brought in had not been a success.

"The fact is that many of the guys Walter has signed have enhanced Scottish football, they've been good for the game.

"I have nothing but respect for Walter. He's still the same guy who walked through the doors of Ibrox for the first time.

"No matter what happens, no matter where Walter goes he will be a success."

Success is what everyone in maroon and white craves after 36 years without a major trophy in the cabinet.

This season's adventures in the rarefied heights of the game have just raised expectations a notch higher that it's about to be delivered.

Two seasons ago, Hearts arrived at this stage of the season with similar hopes - then found them crushed by the weight of a 5- 1 demolition from Rangers in the Hampden sunshine.

This season's performances have indicated, however, that Hearts are made of stronger stuff. A repeat of their display in the 2-2 draw at Ibrox back in February would surely provide their best chance yet of breaking that silverware hoodoo.

Jefferies said: "The players have had a great season and individual honours - like this award - are a result of collective performances.

"It is thanks to the players who have responded to the type of management I have brought to Tynecastle.

"The players have worked really hard to get where they are today. We were very live challengers for the championship but it was not to be, although I could not fault the players for lack of effort.

"Our supporters have been superb and their encouragement is always appreciated by the players.

"We are sorry we could not give them the title, it was not for the lack of trying.

"We could not be more relaxed. In the last few games we have played more like our old selves. You should not judge us on our run- in when we dropped out of the race but on our performances earlier in the season."

Jefferies is quick to pass the spotlight on to his players and backroom staff but there is no doubt he deserves this award.

In three seasons in Gorgie, he has spent just pounds 800,000 on new players in a marketplace that seems to dictate that only the mega rich will succeed.

That is credit to his shrewd judgement of a player and also the support shown by chairman Leslie Deans and chief executive Chris Robinson.

Now he knows what is required to take them on to the next level - taking that trophy back to Edinburgh tonight on the bus.

He said: "The big thing for me is not to stand still. I learned that in Falkirk when you are in danger of going back.

"What the team need now is more quality to come in and assist the Gary Naysmiths, Colin Camerons and Neil McCanns - and raise everyone's game and increase the level of competition.

"This is the opportunity for the players to make it the greatest day of their lives - and to provide a platform for future success.

"Chris Robinson and the rest of the board inherited a massive debt at Tynecastle, they've also built a new stadium on top of that.

"We have nothing to fear in the final. I believe Hearts will be even more dangerous opponents than we were during the league season."

Skipper Gary Locke will have to sit through it all in the stand this afternoon.

He's ruled out through injury which is a cruel blow for the young defender carted off after just seven minutes of the 1996 final.

But as Jefferies said: "There will be a lot more big finals ahead for Gary. It's a shame he's not playing but we were not prepared to take any unnecessary risks with him."

Jefferies also pointed out that he and Smith had squared up against each other in a major final before 96.

The year was 1972, when Hearts faced Dundee United in the Scottish Cup reserve final. And victory on that occasion fell to Jefferies' Jambos.

Taken from the Daily Record