Elvis driven by trophy desire

BARRY ANDERSON

TROPHY curses have afflicted plenty of Hearts captains, Gary Mackay and Walter Kidd for example. Like them, Steven Pressley is going down in Tynecastle folklore, but he is unrepentant about the need to take silverware with him.

Pressley will emerge from the Rugby Park tunnel at five to three tomorrow, armband stifling the powerful blood flow through his left arm as his pumped-up state of mind remains resolutely fixed on making this season a fortuitous one for the club he has represented so steadfastly over the last seven years.

The temporary break in his contract patched up, the captain is tied to Tynecastle until 2007, with the option of remaining beyond that point should it be to the benefit of both player and club. By that time, he wants to be a winner. Craves it.

Not since the tears of John Robertson and the uninhibited jubilation of Gary Locke seven years ago at Celtic Park has a Hearts team adorned the club's trophy room with silverware. Pressley joined only a matter of weeks later, expecting the prospering to persist.

That it hasn't is a cause for much torment in the head of the club's leading defender. At 31, Pressley needs informing from no-one that his chances of major glory with Hearts are slowly diminishing, and that is why he will embrace the giddy ambition of owner Vladimir Romanov with all that he has.

"I don't want to be remembered as a Hearts captain who won nothing," he said. "I came here because the club had potential to win things. We've had exciting times in Europe and in the league, but as yet I haven't had the experience of lifting trophies and that remains a burning desire of mine.

"I will be giving everything to achieve it this year, but every season it gets more difficult. I'm now 31 coming on 32 this year and I haven't got ten years in front of me any longer, so the sooner the better because your career does go quickly.

"There is an element of stability returned to Hearts, which is vitally important. Certainly from myself and most squad members there's a sense of optimism. We always feel we can make a real impact."

To start as they mean to go on, Hearts will be required to outsmart the last manager to take a trophy back to Tynecastle. Jim Jefferies succeeds year upon year in dragging unforeseeably creditable seasons out of his Kilmarnock side, and with a blank canvas on the first day of the season every club is eager to splash their colour.

Romanov has stated his belief that if Hearts can find the sufficient artistry then Maroon will be the dominant glow this season, even above the blue and green haze rising out of Glasgow. Manager George Burley is not so naive as to be drawn on his understandably more cautious thoughts on the matter, but Pressley has adopted an "I want it all" attitude.

He continued: "That has to be our aspiration. Prior to any kick-off you must want to win the league. Statistics don't lie and over the last 14 or 15 years no side has split the Old Firm. They have been number one and two every year, so it has to be our real driving ambition to get up there with them.

"Things are early in the new gaffer's reign and you won't get any of the lads making rash statements because it takes time to get a squad together and a blend of players.

"People cast doubts over a number of things that the new owners have said from day one. But for me, they have delivered on every issue so far. That in itself is very encouraging. Mr Romanov has gone on record as stating his ambition is to win the league and I believe that is the same amongst the players."

As well as the nagging deficiency of not having won a trophy as Hearts captain, Pressley also suffered the ignominy of having to appear as a trialist for the club during summer friendly matches due to a technical hitch surrounding his contract.

Unconvinced over a new SPL clause which was inserted in all player contracts that allowed clubs to terminate the employment of players injured for a period greater than six months, Pressley took a stand and kept the lid on his Biro at the end of the season.

The resolving of the dispute was inevitable, however, although not after a fair amount of ribbing from colleagues in the dressing-room and supporters in the stand. "I think the fans found it more amusing with me being listed on the team sheet as a trialist," said Pressley.

"The certainly saw the funny side of things and one or two of the boys had something to say. But I like to think that I have a good relationship with the Hearts supporters and that is a very important factor in me wanting to stay here. "The contract situation wasn't ideal but at the back of my mind I always wanted to stay at Hearts.

"This will be my eighth year here and the previous seven have been amongst the best of my career. I've said before that I regard Tynecastle as my home and I still feel that way. I was certainly delighted to resolve the issue."

Uncertainty still clouds the long-term futures of Andy Webster, Pressley's central-defensive colleague, and Hearts' new-found talisman of last season, midfielder Paul Hartley. Rangers have made more than tentative inquiries for the former, and Celtic have already made clear their intentions over the latter. Pressley stays on the fence, unsurprisingly, when probed about the prospects for his club and international team-mates. For the captain, as well as being a leader of men, is also a master of philosophy.

"You can understand players wanting to move but the club has shown their desire by turning away offers for Andy and Paul. They are trying to grow this group together and the signings we have made are evidence of that.

"Under George Burley the environment at Hearts has been very good. I have thoroughly enjoyed his training and listening to his views on the game.

"I'm very optimistic about the future, the manager has targeted real quality players and we have three already with good pedigrees. Hopefully a few more will follow."

The more the merrier, really. Because Pressley is on a mission, and the greater the number of hands at his disposal the easier it will be should the day arrive to raise a heavy piece of silverware towards the sky.

Taken from the Scotsman