Steven Naismith reacts to Celtic ticket sorrow as Hearts boss insists clubs right to look after their own

Hearts boss Steven Naismith believes a booming appetite for gameday in Gorgie means it's the right call to reduce Celtic's ticket allocation.

The Premiership champions will only have 576 away supporters in attendance with boss Brendan Rodgers ruing the dwindling numbers which were previously cut from 3,500 to 1,264 in the Roseburn Stand. It comes with Premiership clubs mulling a vote over set percentages of tickets being made available to away fans. It comes at a time when no visiting supporters have been in attendance at three of the last four clashes between Celtic and rivals Rangers. But the Hearts boss is adamant clubs must suit themselves best.

Naismith, speaking to Sky Sports, said: "Celtic will have their view, they are going to have their view just like from what we get when we go to away grounds. I think as a club, over the past five or six years, the momentum has been building for the club in general, whether that be the new stand, the backing the club has got, the foundation and the fan taking control of the club.

"So all that optimism comes with creating a bigger following. So – first and foremost – we need to look after our fans give them the opportunity to support us and be part of what can be a successful time for the club. I think on a bigger, wider scale we can look around at other leagues and see the structure and how things are done but there are so many aspects of the game in Scotland where we can improve on. At this moment in time, every club is looking out for themselves, and rightly so, to give their fans the best opportunity to watch their team."

And Naismith admits he remains relaxed over the future of Rangers loanee Alex Lowry with new Ibrox boss Philippe Clement retaining an option to recall