I MIGHT HAVE LOST MY SCOTLAND PLACE

THE prospect of ending the Old Firm's domination and the fear of losing his place as Scotland's No.1 were enough to convince Craig Gordon to stay at Tynecastle.

Paul Le Guen was set to take the 23-year-old - who has been voted the Scottish Football Writers' Association Player of the Year - to Rangers this summer for £1million.

But the new Gers gaffer was forced to look elsewhere when Vladimir Romanov moved quickly to tie Gordon up until 2009 on a weekly wage in excess of £10,000.

The Scotland star now hopes to round off an excellent season by also clinching a Champions League spot and a Scottish Cup winners' medal.

Gordon said: "There will always be speculation about this and that team but Hearts made me an offer I couldn't refuse.

"They made it clear they really wanted to keep me and within a week of serious negotiations it was sorted out.

"I'm at Tynecastle until 2009 and it's great to have that security.

"A number of things came into my thoughts when considering my future. I need to keep playing for Scotland and want to add to the 15 caps I already have.

"I need to keep playing first-team football every week to achieve that.

"I also believe there is a genuine intention to break the Old Firm domination and I want to be a part of that. If we can split them this season it would be a tremendous start.

"To finish second and win the cup would be great.

"It would be a perfect way to end the season, especially after picking up the Player of the Year award.

"Andy Goram in 1993 was the last keeper to win it and Sandy Jardine the last Hearts player to win it - and that was 20 years ago.

"So to be in their company and the other fantastic footballers who have won this award is really special to me.

"It's nice to be bracketed alongside such big names."

Gordon beat off challenges from names like Shaun Maloney, Paul Hartley, Stilian Petrov, Kris Boyd and Neil Lennon to land the award that will be presented to him at Glasgow's Thistle Hotel on Sunday night.

The Jambos keeper put his gong down to hard work, more consistent performances - and a few good saves.

He said: "There was tough competition. I voted for Kris as my player of the year. To score so many goals in a season, regardless of who you play for, is a tremendous achievement.

"Paul has also been magnificent and carried our team in recent weeks, particularly in the cup semi-final against Hibs when he was superb. He's delighted for me and congratulated me.

"Now I have to think about my speech. I'm going to have so many people to mention and thank.

"This has been my most consistent season. I've not lost many goals and I must pay tribute to our defence for that.

"Steven Pressley and Andy Webster are such a consistent central defensive partnership. The three of us have a great understanding and are pretty formidable to play against.

"Don't get me wrong I've made a few errors this season but I'm wiser, more experienced and better with my decision making on the pitch.

"I've enjoyed a few of the saves I've made this season. I remember one against Motherwell. It was late in the game and I had to keep out an effort from Davie Clarkson.

"We won the match and it gave us five wins in a row. If we had dropped two points that day who knows, it might have sent us on a losing streak.

"When we played Partick Thistle in the Scottish Cup I had to make a save from a free-kick from Billy Gibson. Given where we are now in the competition that was an important one too.

"Then I stopped a Thomas Buff el effort against Rangers last month. It meant we took a point and that could prove vital at the end of the season.

"So all in all, I have to be pleased. I've been working hard and things have been paying off. I set myself targets at the start of every season and want to play as many first-team games as I can and try to get 20 clean sheets."

Considering the behind-the-scenes turmoil at Tynecastle, for Gordon and his team-mates to still be doing well deserves great credit.

He admitted at times the players have had to be their own boss.

He said: "Yeah, that quite possibly has been the case. We've had to manage ourselves and I suppose we have become immune to what's going on off the park.

"I'm now one of the most experienced players at the club and that brings responsibility. The lads have handed it well, we're all close."

Modest Gordon paid tribute to his mentors throughout the years.

He said: "I've been lucky to have had the pleasure of working with some great keepers.

"This season alone I've had three goalkeeping coaches - Peter Latchford, Malcolm Webster and Jim Stewart. They all have their own ideas and I've benefited from taking different things from them.

"Antti Niemi was also a great keeper to learn from when I was coming through at Hearts. Gilles Rousset also helped when I was a kid at the club.

"Working with them is a major reason I've developed so quickly.

"I've been in the company of Henry Smith a few times. He's a legend at Tynecastle and is fondly remembered by the fans.

"He played 170 games, or something ridiculous like that, on the trot for Hearts.

"If I can be remembered as fondly as he is I'll be delighted."

Taken from the Daily Record