According to former Tynecastle defender Ryan McGowan, Hearts should prioritise pulling away from the chasing pack by cementing a place in the Scottish Premiership’s top three.
The Edinburgh outfit were just a single match away from clinching the title last season, but a defeat at Celtic Park on the final afternoon left them second in the table behind Celtic.
Nonetheless, Hearts finished eight points ahead of Rangers, who had ended the previous four seasons as the league’s runners-up.
“I’ve always felt that Hearts should concentrate more on putting distance between themselves and the clubs finishing fourth, fifth and sixth over a sustained period,” McGowan, now with Livingston, remarked on the Scottish Football Podcast.
“That would allow them to become established, build up their finances, enjoy the benefits that come with qualifying for European competitions, and really embed themselves at that level.
“While gradually narrowing the gap to the two Glasgow sides, they can simultaneously widen the margin over everyone else. For Hearts supporters, that has to be the key objective this season.”
Securing second spot represented Hearts’ strongest league finish in two decades, and they will enter the Champions League second qualifying round later this month, facing Austrian side Sturm Graz in a two-legged tie.
“They came agonisingly close to being champions last year and will be deeply frustrated,” McGowan continued.
“If you can create more breathing space between yourselves and the teams immediately around you, that margin will only grow.
“You’ll be able to pluck away their best players and strengthen your own squad, all the while edging nearer to Celtic and Rangers and moving towards what investor Tony Bloom described as winning the league within the next decade.
“Hearts are unquestionably heading in the right direction.”
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