Kirk's heart sure to stay in Gorgie

PAUL KIDDIE

DEPARTING Hearts star Andy Kirk today spoke of his sadness at seeing the curtain come down on his Tynecastle career.

The frontman walked out of Tynecastle for the last time on Sunday following an emotional afternoon in Gorgie, Kirk having helped the Jambos end their season on a high with victory over Motherwell in his final game for the club.

The Northern Ireland international, who moved from Glentoran to the Capital five-and-a-half years ago, is on the lookout for new employers after becoming one of the victims of boss Craig Levein’s enforced summer cutbacks.

Along with team-mates Steven Boyack and Scott Severin, the striker, who turns 25 later this month, was told last week that the visit of the Steelmen would be his last game in a maroon shirt.

Having struggled to shake off a recurring groin problem, Kirk was fit enough for a place on the bench and was handed his chance to say farewell to the fans after replacing Neil MacFarlane with 21 minutes of the match remaining.

"I had an injection in my groin earlier in the week but didn’t think I would be fit for the game," said Kirk, who took his 15-week-old son Makenzie on the squad’s lap of honour at the final whistle.

"However, the gaffer said he wanted to play me to give me a chance to say farewell to the supporters and that was a decent gesture.

"It was an exciting day but at the same time quite sad as my Hearts career came to an end.

"It was good to finish with a win and everything ended well for us.

"I didn’t really know until last week that I wasn’t being kept on and it was a strange feeling, really.

"The whole thing has been a bit of an emotional roller-coaster for me and to be honest not knowing what was happening was unsettling for the family.

"Maybe it is time to move on and hopefully I can get something sorted out during the summer."

Despite being out of the team more than he would have liked in recent months, Kirk still managed to smash ten goals to finish second-top scorer behind Heart’s Dutch striker Mark de Vries.

Kirk remains on the fringes of the international set-up under new Northern Ireland boss Lawrie Sanchez but has targeted resolving his immediate future as his priority for the time being.

He said: "These things happen in football and I have to look elsewhere now. There are a few things on the go and I’ll have to sit down with my wife and agent to discuss what is best for me.

"I am not that concerned about my international career at the moment. It is more important that I find a new club, get settled in and do as well for them as I have for Hearts.

"And you never know, I would never rule out maybe one day coming back for another spell."

The striker, labelled "Ulster Andy" by the Gorgie faithful, was impressed by the reception he received from the fans on Sunday, and he insists the feeling is mutual.

"It was difficult to say goodbye as the fans have been magnificent with me," he said. "I got a great reception at the game and there was a lump in my throat.

"It is nice that the supporters appreciated me and I think they know I appreciated them as well.

"It was great that I was able to take my son onto the pitch although he is too young to realise what was happening. It is something I can tell him about in later years, though.

"Hearts have been a big part of my footballing life and it was sad to leave. Hopefully it works out for the best."

A veteran of the Jambos’ most recent UEFA Cup adventures, the 24-year-old’s goals this season helped the team secure a second consecutive European campaign via a third-place finish.

Kirk will be plying his trade elsewhere as the Gorgie outfit kicks off next season’s Euro adventure and despite the ongoing cutbacks at Tynecastle, the forward believes there is enough quality coming through to ensure another successful campaign next term.

"I hope the club continues to do well as they have a lot of good youngsters coming through," he said.

"There was a lot of stuff going on off the park this season but the management staff did a good job to keep that away from the pitch.

"The guys will be looking forward to playing in Europe again and I was lucky enough to play there both with Hearts and also before I came to the club.

"And who knows, maybe I’ll be playing in Europe for another team next season."

Taken from the Scotsman