Michael Stewart has warned Steven Naismith that the ‘inevitable’ sacking of the Hearts boss will come if he cannot pick up positive results in the next four league games.
The Jambos have endured a torrid start to the new season after earning a creditable draw against Rangers on the opening day of the Scottish Premiership campaign.
They’ve lost all of their games since, including a Premier Sports Cup defeat to second-tier Falkirk and failing to qualify for the Europa League against Viktoria Plzen.
Hearts currently sit second-bottom of the league table heading into the first international break of the season with Naismith’s job seemingly on a shoogly peg.
What makes matters harder for the club is that Naismith was recently handed a new contract until the summer of 2026 so deciding to change manager so soon afterwards will be a very difficult one for the Hearts hierarchy to weigh up.
That’s also the view of former Hearts midfielder Stewart, who also suggested that it will be over for Naismith if he can’t deliver positive results in the next four domestic games.
Michael Stewart’s warning for Naismith
Speaking on The Scottish Football Social Club by Premier Sports, Michael Stewart told host Darrell Currie after the latter asked if the board have to make a change if Naismith continues to falter: “Well Darrell, that’s just inevitable with football.
“It’s six defeats in a row, they’ve not won in nine and they’ve got Celtic away, St Mirren away, I think it’s Kilmarnock (Ross County) at home and Aberdeen away.
“I think that’s the next four fixtures before the next international break. That’s not easy and unfortunately, if they don’t pick up some results in there, then it’s going to be a very, very tough decision for the board.”
Hearts next four league games
As Stewart says, Hearts face the toughest fixture in Scottish football at the moment when they return from the international break.
It’s highly likely Naismith will lose to Celtic at Parkhead before making yet another difficult away trip to Paisley where they’ll face a strong St Mirren team.
Hearts, in fairness, do boast a good record in Renfrewshire having lost just two of their last 12 games in all competitions there.
But St Mirren are a side who finished in the top six last season and will no doubt be recharged after their four game European run hampered their domestic results slightly.
Ross County at home is simply a must win, that’s of course if Naismith is still at the helm when the Staggies come to Tynecastle on September 28.
And then after the club’s first Europa Conference League league phase tie against Dinamo Minsk, a daunting away trip to Aberdeen beckons.
Aberdeen are flying under Jimmy Thelin with the Swede winning all of his games as a manager in Scottish football thus far.
Hearts would do well to pick up four points in those four games but will that be enough to appease the board and indeed a fanbase who are becoming more and more frustrated by the week?