I AM CERTAIN DUFF CHOICE WILL PROVE TO BE JUST PERFECT

JIM DUFFY has been officially appointed our director of football and for me it is the ideal and perhaps even obvious decision for Hearts to take.

Just have a look at Jim's CV. He was the perfect candidate for the job.

He has worked at a number of big clubs, including Chelsea where he was heavily involved in bringing the young kids through the youth system.

Jim has great experience in that department and for a club such as ourselves that is vitally important because producing our own players is essential.

As regards his position, he is not just interested in the first team. Jim's task will be to oversee all sorts of areas within the club.

And one of the best things about this is that it was the manager who brought him to Tynecastle.

I have read so many stories in recent years about the director of football and managers clashing at various clubs. And that is another reason why Jim is so suited to Hearts. Heand Graham Rix are very close, both personally and professionally having worked together at Chelsea, so there is little chance of any massive disagreements. In fact, they have a lot of the same ideas.

I can promise the fans that Jim is very excited about our football club. He can see the potential that is here. I spoke to him the other day and could tell there and then how much he is looking forward to his job.

I had never really worked with Jim before but over the past 10 days or so he has really impressed me. He is a real football man and will do a great job for this club.

But despite Jim's appointment it was not a good weekend for Hearts. I'm conceding nothing at all but it will be difficult for us to win the league title now Celtic have gone 13 points ahead of us.

We let ourselves down against Aberdeen. The players have set high standards this season but didn't live up to them.

But I would remind the supporters that Mr Romanov always said he wanted to win the titles within three years and not in his first season in Scotland.

We had our well publicised meeting with him after our game on Saturday and the only thing I would want to add to our statement is that I believe he wants the best for Hearts.

It's important to remember we are second in the SPL and going for a place in the Champions League.

If we do that at least - and remember we haven't given up on the title - then it is a magnificent achievement for Hearts. We have progressed so much this season. Whatever else has gone on at times should not take away from that.

We are still in the Scottish Cup and I can tell you every player in that dressing room wants to win it.

I'm a realist and know it will take something special for us or anyone else to catch Celtic now. But that doesn't mean this hasn't been an incredible season for Hearts.

We want to get back on track against Motherwell on Saturday. The Aberdeen result is now forgotten.

Taken from the Daily Record