Hearts have TOO MANY players and former Jambo knows what he'd be saying if he was Steven Naismith

Hearts made a switch to redress the balance in the dug out this week. But it’s on the pitch that former Tynecastle number two Billy Brown reckons his old club hasn’t got the right harmony.

And he says it’s because they’ve got TOO MANY players. Brown hasn’t been fooled by the Jambos’ rejig that saw Frankie McAvoy installed as head coach and Steven Naismith as technical director to satisfy UEFA’s pro-licence criteria for European competition.

Now with the Euro campaign over the roles have been reversed and it’s full steam ahead for Hearts with Naismith back at the helm. Sunday’s 1-0 home defeat to Motherwell was the fourth loss in a row and the boo boys made it clear the pressure is already on to deliver after the international break.

Brown - who along with Jim Jefferies handed Naismith his professional playing debut at Kilmarnock 20 seasons ago - said: “I was there on Sunday. If I was with Naisy just now I’d be saying the team hasn’t got the right balance. Especially in the middle of the park.

“They have far too many players. It was the same last season. If you have too many players it gives you a headache. If you have 30 players that means there’s 19 not starting.

“They don’t need all the options they’ve got. I know they argued that the European schedule meant they needed more players but I’m not sure about that.

“I think it’s overthought and that players can play more games if they are fit enough. The numbers are too high. In the middle when Baningime is fit they have him, Haring, Devlin, Halliday, Grant, Nieuwenhof, Lowry and the young lads that have come in too.

“If you have too many options then it can be a problem. Jim and I never had that luxury. We always had a tight squad and it worked for us.

“You just have to