Robbie Neilson in Hearts 'better manager' belief as he reveals key behind his Tynecastle bliss

Jubilant Gorgie gaffer Robbie Neilson insisted he’s a better boss now than his first Hearts stint as he celebrated signing a new three-year Tynecastle deal.

The Jambos manager and his two assistants Lee McCulloch and Gordon Forrest have all committed themselves to the club until 2025. The 42-year-old started out his managerial career in 2014 with the team he’d previously spent a decade serving as a player before being enticed away by MK Dons two-and-a-half years later.

Since his Gorgie return in 2020, however, Hearts have gone from strength to strength, battling their way out of the Championship and now back into Europe. Now as he looks ahead to the fresh challenges ahead, Neilson argued he’s never been better equipped for the job.

He said: “I have picked up experience over the years in England and being at Dundee United and now back here. I have managed more than 300 games and you learn about different characters as you go. I feel I am a better manager. When I was here before it was my first job and it was all new.

“Now I have been in most situations. It was an easy decision to agree the new deal. The club came to me about a month or two ago and we started talking about it. Right away, I was more than happy to do it.

“So I’m delighted to stay for hopefully another three years and keep building the club. It’s been a good first two years and it’s a chance to go take it to the next level again.”

Neilson’s team finished third on their return to the top-flight last term and are guaranteed to be playing European football all the way to November.

He’s signed up five new recruits for that challenge having also made Alex Cochrane’s Brighton switch permanent.

And the Jambos boss is excited by what the future has in store.

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