We must build on this, says emotional Pressley

STEVEN Pressley hailed the magnificent turnout by Hearts supporters for the Scottish Cup victory celebrations yesterday as an indication of how much potential for growth the club has. Speaking after an estimated 80,000 people packed the centre of Edinburgh for the traditional open-top bus parade and another 15,000 had welcomed the Hearts squad back into Tynecastle, the Hearts captain added that the vital thing for the club to do now was to build on the achievements of this season.

"There were several hundred thousand Hearts supporters out there on the streets of Edinburgh today, and I believe this shows the potential of the club," Pressley said, adding that ground improvements were a must in order to let more fans into matches and hence put more money into the club. "If the club is to move forward we can't just rely on Mr Romanov's investment," he said. "We also have to operate the club in the right financial manner, and that includes increasing the size of the stadium.

"We'll have to prove we're capable of sustaining this. Many teams have had good seasons and failed to sustain it, but I believe we can do it."

Pressley's stabilising influence has been critical in a season in which Hearts have had four different managers or interim bosses - George Burley, John McGlynn, Graham Rix and Valdas Ivanauskas. He hopes that next season will see less upheaval, and believes that the current interim head coach should be appointed to the post properly.

"Valdas should be appointed manager. He's done a fantastic job and would be a very popular choice. We don't want to have to endure another season of continuous change - we'd like stability."

Pressley was the last player to come out of the tunnel and be introduced to the crowd at Tynecastle yesterday, and was given a rapturous reception when he walked on to the pitch carrying the Scottish Cup. He said he had been close to tears when he spotted his mother in the stand, wiping her eyes as she watched "her wee boy lifting the cup".

The captain was accompanied on to the pitch yesterday by his niece, Morgan. His four-year-old son Aaron had been with him on Saturday as the team won the cup, but had decided not to attend yesterday. "He told me he wanted to go to a birthday party today. Imagine preferring a bouncy castle to this."

STUART BATHGATE

Taken from the Scotsman