McGlynn: Hearts is where home should be for defender

John McGlynn believes his Hearts players must get to grips with the financial realities at the club.

The Tynecastle manager spoke out after the agent representing defender Ryan McGowan branded the terms of a new contract "demeaning".

The Australian has been an impressive presence for Hearts since breaking into the first team last season but his agent has cautioned that may now have to entertain offers from other clubs. McGlynn is confident that his player will not be perturbed by the wait on a new deal, though.

The manager was a little irked about the situation and claimed players must tailor their financial demands.

"I don't see Ryan McGowan being distracted by contract talks because negotiations have been going on for a while now," said the Hearts manager. "He's the type you like to work with because he's always up to something mischievous and that's the type of boy he is. He doesn't seem to be down about things. He's got a bright future, he's still young and he's still developing.

"There's absolutely no doubt that the best place for him to continue his development for the next two or three years is Tynecastle. It's [the nature of] negotiations, we all know how it works.

"They want a bit more but Hearts are having to cut back and haven't been paying what they paid previously. So if in certain situations players are looking for the money they were getting 18 months or a year ago then it's probably not going to happen.

"We have to cut our cloth accordingly and get back to a situation where we break even. That might determine certain issues with certain players in the future."

McGlynn also had concerns about the present, and more precisely the Scottish Communities League Cup quarter-final draw. Or lack of one.

He had kept tabs on both of Wednesday night's ties – as Aberdeen and Rangers joined Hearts in the last eight – but was dismayed that the Scottish Football League did not perform the draw immediately after those matches were decided. He feels England's equivalent cup competition, the Capital One Cup, is handled far better and fosters greater excitement.

"I can't believe we didn't have the draw on Wednesday night – we were shown up by England yet again," said McGlynn, whose side defeated Livingston 3-1.

"The final two ties were played on Wednesday night and everyone was anticipating a draw. That's what happened in England, big ties came out and people are excited. We've got to wait until they sort out the balls."

Hopefully the balls will be sorted by next Thursday, when the draw takes place.

Taken from the Herald