No honeymoon period for Burley and squad on tour

CELEBRATING his 27th wedding anniversary on Thursday, George Burley was consumed by thoughts of Hearts and a weekend away. But it wasn't romance on his mind, it was football, and while there is no doubt that his travel companions will be doing all in their power to woo him, they will be his new Tynecastle charges and not his wife.

That's the lot of a football manager absorbed in the task of building a team capable of reasserting a degree of superiority over Premierleague rivals. Since taking the reins at Hearts less than a fortnight ago Burley has been quickly assessing the areas of strength and weakness in the threadbare squad he inherited and this afternoon's game against St Patrick's, in Dublin, is the first opportunity to test his findings in a match situation.

That scrutiny is something the players are aware of. "Everybody has got to try and prove themselves all over again," says Neil MacFarlane, a regular under Craig Levein but a player who took a while to win John Robertson over last season. "It's the same when any new manager comes in but we will give it our all and in the three years I've been here that's all I've been able to do. I just keep trying to do my best.

"I always just look to every pre-season to do my best and then hopefully take it on into the season. In the years I've been here it's proved okay so hopefully I can do that again because I always want to play. Everyone wants that."

But he and his team-mates realise that competition for places is likely to hot up by the time the new term gets underway.

Signing targets have already been identified and fresh faces will be added to the squad following the trip to Ireland. "There is no doubt the club want higher standards," says Burley. "They finished 11 points behind fourth position last season so we will be looking for better than that. We have got a nucleus of 14 players and it's very important we strengthen.

"I will be looking at bringing through the young players but in the short term we have to be looking at the first team. The priority at the moment is to try and improve the first team squad."

And despite the paucity of time between now at the end of the month when the transfer window slams shut, Burley is convinced he can lure the right people in to up the standards. "Work is going on behind the scenes to bring new players in. Ideally you would want longer but that's not the case. We have got finance there to bring players in and the quality is important as well. Quality players have shown in an interest in coming here. There are a lot of positive vibes from the reaction of clubs that I have spoken to about players at the moment, so that's great. Hopefully they can see Hearts are ambitious."

Rather than feel daunted by the competition, especially by the news that fellow midfielder Steve Lomas is one of the possible targets, MacFarlane says he and his colleagues are relieved that reinforcements will soon be arriving.

"We definitely need to strengthen," admitted the 27-year-old, who took time to convince previous boss John Robertson of his worth before establishing himself in the second half of last season. "We have got a small squad at the moment but I think that will definitely pick up towards the 30th July [opening day of the Premierleague season] and if we can get a few players in and they settle for the start of the season then I think we have a good chance of getting back where we belong."

Which is at least third place and qualification for Europe next term. This season will be MacFarlane's first barren one in terms of European football since his arrival in Gorgie three years ago and he, like his new gaffer, is determined to remedy the situation.

Finishing the upcoming season in a position which would guarantee European excursions in the following campaign is an objective Burley shares but in the future the target is even higher. Echoing the board, he has already gone on record with the aim of eventually giving the Old Firm a run for their money.

"That's what you want to hear," says MacFarlane. "Everyone is ambitious. When you start the season you don't set out to be third, you want to win the league. We realise how difficult that is and Rangers and Celtic are always going to be the two biggest clubs in the country but we are now looking to push on and with everything that is happening at the club, I'm quite confident that we can and it will be great for the fans and the club as a whole."

With the integration of the rested internationals back into the squad, Burley reaffirmed his determination to hang onto Paul Hartley, Andy Webster, Craig Gordon and Steven Pressley and having now worked with the latter he now realises he doesn't need to add a leader to the shopping list. "He's very important, very experienced, a great professional. Young players look up to him. I had that with Tony Mowbray at Ipswich. They are very similar, Tony and Steven. They are similar types of characters - leaders on and off the field - and it's very key that you have that type of character in your dressing room."

Hearts can be satisfied they have that quality in the manager's office as well.

Taken from the Scotsman