Joe Savage, the former sporting director of Hearts, has been speaking out again, months after his departure from the club in July.
During his three-and-a-half-year tenure, the team won the Championship and achieved third, fourth, and third-place finishes in the Premiership. Following his exit, Savage revealed his next venture—a football consultancy firm, FT FT Consultancy—and shared his desire to step back from the intensity of club football to spend more time with his family.
Reflecting on his time at Hearts, Savage opened up about his reasons for leaving and the challenges he faced, despite his overall success in the role. Now 40, Savage recently discussed his take on Hearts’ partnership with Jamestown Analytics, which occurred after his departure.
Savage on His Relationship with Steven Naismith
Steven Naismith, the former Hearts manager who worked closely with Savage, was dismissed after a poor start to the season left the team bottom of the league. Savage addressed rumors of a strained relationship with Naismith, refuting any suggestion of discord.
Speaking to The Daily Record’s Hotline, he said:
“It’s funny, people have brought that up with me before. Unless Steven has something different to say, I wouldn’t say that was the case. I thought we were aligned and both wanted the same thing. He was a young manager looking to establish himself, and I was a young sporting director doing the same. We didn’t clash and had a good relationship. I supported his decisions regarding signings like Yan Dhanda, James Penrice, and Blair Spittal. Even after I left, I was aware of other signings like Oyegoke and Musa Drammeh.”
Savage also acknowledged that Naismith found the transfer process slower than expected, which may have been challenging for a new manager. “I still speak to him now and was disappointed to see him lose his job. But if you lose eight games in a row, you’re going to face pressure,” he added.
Hearts’ Striker Woes
A major issue for Hearts this season has been their inability to score goals. Lawrence Shankland, last season’s star, has struggled for form, while other options, including Liam Boyce, Musa Drammeh, and 17-year-old James Wilson, haven’t delivered. Critics have pointed to the failure to replace Kyosuke Tagawa, who was sold in the summer.
Savage defended the club, confirming that efforts were made to sign a striker.
“I can’t say I was fully involved because I had informed Andrew McKinlay in May that I intended to leave. But I know they were looking at strikers. They hoped Tagawa would settle, but when it became clear it wasn’t working, the chance for him to return to Japan came up. In hindsight, I think Steven would agree a striker was needed.”
Savage’s insights shed light on the challenges Hearts have faced both on and off the pitch, providing a glimpse into the complexities of football management.
