Hartley insists security is key to current form

MARK BONTHRONE

HEARTS midfielder Paul Hartley revealed today that the security of having two years still to run on his contract at Tynecastle is helping him produce some of the best football of his career.

While some of his team-mates are currently sweating on whether they will be offered new deals at the end of the campaign Hartley knows his immediate future is assured.

That is allowing the former St Johnstone and Hibs playmaker to revel in his role at the heart of the Jambos midfield and with partner Lee having given birth to the couple’s third son, Regan, in the early hours of Thursday morning, the stability is particularly appreciated.

"I think having the two-year deal in the current football climate definitely helps both at home and on the pitch," he said.

"It offers a bit of stability and allows you to plan for the future.

"Lee has just given birth to our third baby boy and I’m obviously delighted about that.

"On the pitch too it helps knowing that you still have a couple of years to run as it takes a wee bit of the pressure off you.

"I feel sorry for the guys who don’t know about their situation yet but there’s not an awful lot that you can do about that.

"I’m one of the fortunate ones as I signed a three year deal last season."

And Hartley admits to being pleased with how things have gone since signing for Craig Levein’s men in the summer.

"It was always going to be hard coming here being a former Hibs player and the fact I had a bit of a sticky start probably didn’t help matters," he said.

"You know that the fans aren’t going to let you settle and if you aren’t playing well the fans are going to let you know about it.

"But the last six months have gone really well and I’ve been pleased with the way I’ve been playing.

"I’ve been in the team almost every single week and I think to be honest the fans may even have forgotten about the fact I used to play for Hibs.

"As long as you give your all each week the supporters appreciate that and I have been trying to do that each time I play. "I’ve been playing in what I see as my best position in the middle of the park and it would be nice if that could continue.

"I feel I’ve been doing well there and the fans have been great to me so hopefully that can continue over the next two years I have here."

And Hartley is determined to end what has been a promising start to his Hearts career by helping the Tynecastle outfit to fend off the challenge of Dunfermline and secure third spot.

"We are in a good position for getting third place but we still have work to do.

"We have been in third place all season and we really don’t want to let that slip now that we are almost there.

"We can’t allow ourselves to drift towards thoughts of European football just yet but we know that we aren’t far away now."

Taken from the Scotsman