Andy Halliday's talks with Hearts management, coaching ambitions and bond with club after signing new deal

The 30-year-old midfielder signed a new contract until 2024 after talks with manager Robbie Neilson and sporting director Joe Savage. He said he feels an allegiance to the Edinburgh club and, if possible, hopes to begin coaching within their youth academy soon.

First he wants to return European football to Gorgie for the first time since 2016. “I'm honest enough to know I don't have another decade at the top level, so for the rest of my career I want to be competing at the highest level possible and try to go deep in competitions,” said Halliday.

“I had an honest conversation with the manager in the middle of January and he told me he wanted to offer me a contract. I told him I wanted to stay and negotiations were very easy from then.

“The biggest praise I can give the manager is that he's never been anything but honest with me. If he feels I should be doing more on the pitch, he'll tell me and also if he thinks I'm doing well.

“Europe would be a good aspect of staying at the club. It was an ambition of ours at the start of the season and it's something we're really looking forward to. It's 2016 since Hearts were last in the Europa League, so seven years is a long time.

“It's something the club will be desperate to experience again. I think we still have a way to go but I think, as a club, we are going places.”

“It's not even just the football club. It's everything that surrounds it. It is the people behind the scenes, the players, the manager, the fans, the stadium, the training facilities. All around it is just a fantastic club.”

Halliday is studying for a UEFA ‘A’ Licence and wants to become more of a role model for Hearts youth players. “I had a couple of conversations with Naisy [Steven Naismith, Under-18 coach].