Laszlo expects a three-way title race next season

Csaba Laszlo, the Hearts manager, has suggested that his rejuvenated side can close the gap to the Old Firm and be a genuine threat in next season's SPL title race.

The colourful Hungarian has overseen a remarkable transformation in fortunes since arriving at the club as a relatively unknown figure last summer.

Hearts were a rudderless, disenchanted club seeking stability after off-field turmoil hit performances to result in a bottom-six finish last term, when Laszlo left his job as head coach of the Ugandan national team to take over at Tynecastle.

If his appointment was a surprise to supporters and players, he has quickly made his mark to secure his initial target of a top-six berth and a likely spot in next term's Europa League.

The infectious man-management skills of Laszlo, honed from a varied career working in Germany, Hungary and Africa, have united a previously dispirited squad spurred on by the 45-year-old's appetite for success.

Third-placed Hearts trail Rangers and leaders Celtic by 15 and 18 points respectively, but Laszlo feels that gap can be closed next season, providing he is able to make additions to his squad.

"The possibility is there to have next year a very interesting competition in Scottish football," he said ahead of tomorow's televised game against Gordon Strachan's side. "If you talk about Celtic and Rangers, I'm not involved in the club politics. I don't know what they plan. But I know what I plan. If our plan works and we have a little bit of luck, to bring the right players in that help us, I think we can do better.

"I think for this club it's very important to always be in the best six. But for this club now, it's very important maybe to be very close to winning a title. This club has come back a little to life. But in football it's not easy to talk about what happens next year. I have to think about the future, about new players. One guy from the board is here, we must sit together, think about new players."

For now, though, Laszlo is determined to secure European football and upsetting Celtic on home soil would aid that cause.

He added: "Celtic, individually, have class and quality definitely, also international experience. But if you close down their space and use our strengths, who knows."

Taken from the Herald