'Realistic' Steven Naismith says he can turn sinking Hearts around - and reveals what would make him quit

The former Tynecastle player also said that he will walk away from his position should he feel that he does not have the support of the players or if “they are not listening” to him any more.

The travelling Hearts support called for Naismith to be sacked towards the end of the 2-1 defeat in Paisley, with the players heckled off the pitch at the end. The Jambos have only scored three goals all season and have one point to their name, which came in the league opener at home to Rangers back in early August. They also exited the Premier Sports Cup against Championship side Falkirk.

Hearts have been in decline since the end of last season despite finishing third and qualifying for Europe. They have won just one of their past 15 competitive matches and severe heat is now being put on Naismith. The 38-year-old feels the squad is still playing for him and that he can turn fortunes around, but knows that the club’s board may feel differently amid such a dire run of form.

Asked if he was still thinks he is capable of turning Hearts’ fortunes around, Naismith replied. “Yes I do. Because of our performance at the start. The first-half performance was good. The last moment wasn't good. Because of the start of the season, we started to feel we needed to be safe. You're losing the game, we become safe. We don't play the passes we did in the first half. It caused them problems. The second half fizzles out because of that. I'm still confident in that. I'm realistic to understand that the more games we pass, the more pressure builds. 

Hearts fans called for Naismith to “get tae ****” just after the 75-minute mark. “It'll be what it'll be,” he said of the supporters’ ire towards him and potential for change. “The one thing I've felt my whole time at the club as a player, as a coach and as a manager, is that the board are realistic, they're sensible, they understand it. They make good decisions, in my opinion. They have done in the club for the last five years. That'll be what it'll be. I can totally understand the fans' frustration. The travelling support, as you see, is fantastic. At the moment, we're not rewarding that. That's a big disappointment.”

Naismith says he still has the appetite to be head coach of Hearts. “I love the job,” he continued. “I love the challenge. I love the intensity. I love the pressure that comes with it. I love all that. I'm just really frustrated because our performances at times have been good. Today, I thought we had an intent, we carried a threat. But it's the final moments that have not given any fruit for that play. And then the goals, we can see they're soft. I think in terms of my job, I love it. I think it's a brilliant club. I think there's so much potential. It's a really tough moment. I'm well aware of it. I understand the pressures and the consequences that come with that. But I still have full belief, if I'm honest.

“I'm going to sit here and say that because I do firmly believe it. A few things in the second half are frustrating. We don't have that ability to continue to make the right passes that we've got so much success from. We play more into their hands. I don't know how many times in the second half, we end up with the goalie having the ball again. They're small moments, but they're affecting us big time. And then we lost the momentum. At the end there, it becomes desperate. And that's not where we want to be.”

Naismith’s belief is swelled because he feels also has the backing of his players. “I'm not going to sit here and criticise the players for any of their attitude,” the former Scotland striker continued. “They're willing to improve and get better. There's some young guys in there that are potential. I've been there as a player, understanding these moments. it's tough. They're searching about for answers, but I think us as coaches need to guide them on that.

“Like I said, it was a really poor run. It's really frustrating. But again, I can see some positives today. As much as the scoreline says it's another defeat, I think another day for a better defensive set-up. We walk away with at least a draw. If we're finishing, it's better to come away with a win. But we're in a bad place. We need to get out of it as quick as we can. That's where my head's at.”

Naismith also stated that he would be prepared to resign from his position if he felt he was not able to stop the bleeding. He went through a similar tough period at the start of last season, before guiding the club up the table and then to a third-placed finish.

“The way we've worked and the way I've worked for the last year, I've not seen any change in anybody,” Naismith said on his relationship with the board. “As I said at the start, I'm realistic, I understand the game. I'm confident that if I get to a point where I really believe that the players aren't actually listening to me anymore or are interested, I'll walk away from it. I don't think I'm at that point. We'll review the game and work hard to get on to Ross County next week.

“I've been there as a player, I've been at clubs where the change does have to be the coach. I genuinely don't believe we're there. I think the first half an hour of the game we controlled it, we were on the front foot. What we'd worked on during the week was seen on the pitch and it was good. It was a good feeling. Just in one of these moments it's tough.

“Added to that, these tough moments need to come to an end. If they don't come to an end, change happens. It's realistic, it's understandable. But I think the one thing that's clear from the players to the coaches to all the way at the board is, everybody does understand the situation. We understand the need to get a win.”