GROWING YOUR OWN GIVES EVERYONE SO MUCH SATISFACTION

THE Romanov era at Tynecastle has signalled the arrival of big-money buys and a United Nations of talent.

Experienced foreign stars will always be welcome at Hearts as we strive to achieve our ambitions at home and abroad.

But nothing quite gives me the same pleasure as seeing a player emerge from our own youth ranks to challenge established stars for a place in our team.

I was proud as punch at the weekend when Andrew Driver scored his first goal for us and was immediately congratulated by Jamie Mole and Lee Wallace as Craig Gordon looked on.

All are products of our youth system, along with Christophe Berra, who was rested for the Inverness game, suspended Robbie Neilson and Calum Elliot, who has gone on loan to Motherwell.

Significantly, they are all committed to the club on long-term deals and it shows that no matter the scale of our aspirations under Mr Romanov, youth will always play its part.

Our fans love the excitement of a big-money arrival but they take just as much pleasure - probably more - in watching one of their own mature into a player of note.

Robbie and Craig have won places in the Scotland squad, Christophe and Calum are regulars with the Under-21s and we hope others will follow them.

Unfortunately for Andrew, who has just signed a new five-year contract, his international future must lie with England, even though I once saw him kissing the Lion Rampant on his Scotland shirt as he celebrated a goal against the Auld Enemy.

That came a few years ago in a Victory Shield game and Andrew was eligible for Scotland because he was schooled here, even though the family are from Oldham.

Jamie is another English lad, a Geordie we managed to tempt to Tynecastle after he slipped through the net following a changeover in management at the Newcastle Academy.

He impressed in only his second start against AEK Athens last week and the performances of Jamie and Andrew have even sent out a message to the club's established strikers.

We scored only once in the SPL against Inverness last season but those lads have equalled that on their own after our 4-1 win.

The arrival of players such as Takis Fyssas was a huge boost and they also bought us some extra time to develop the youngsters.

We have brought a lot of players to the club in the last 12 months but not all of them have been successful. If you develop your own, at least you know what you're getting.

To that end, the work of academy director John Murray and coaches such as Steve Frail, Darren Murray, John Cockerill, Stevie Cowan, John Lennox and Roy Craig is vital.

Young players are hungry for success and to make their impact in the first team. If they are brought through together with a group of players they already know it's more likely to build a strong team spirit.

We ask only if these players are physically and mentally ready and if they tick the boxes and have been playing well at reserve-team level, they're in.

It has stood clubs such as Aberdeen, Motherwell and Kilmarnock in good stead, despite flirtations with relegation, even if there's a degree of sink or swim attached to the process.

At Hibs, for example, Bobby Williamson brought through players such as Derek Riordan, Scott Brown and Garry O'Connor.

Although they came close to sinking at times, they adapted to swim very well in the deep waters of the SPL.

It's impossible to protect kids for ever and we take pride at Hearts in producing good, disciplined youngsters.

We have brought through players for other clubs, from Gary Tierney at Airdrie to Kenny Milne at Falkirk, Graham Weir at Queen of the South to Robert Sloan and David McGeown at Alloa - plus many more.

They are playing at a good level in the game and most of them are making a full-time living.

We're pleased to have helped them on their way in senior football.

Taken from the Daily Record