Jefferies proud to pay Neilson his respects

Published on Friday 9 May 2008 22:18

JIM Jefferies believes it is fitting Hearts have awarded Robbie Neilson with a testimonial as he is one of the club's great survivors.

Neilson, who was signed by Jefferies for Hearts in 1996, is being honoured with a match between the Jambos 1998 and 2006 Scottish Cup-winning teams tomorrow afternoon.

Jefferies, who brings his Kilmarnock side to Gorgie on league business today, was in charge of Hearts when they lifted the Scottish Cup ten years ago and he will be back in charge of those players this weekend at Tynecastle for Neilson's testimonial.

And the player richly deserves this accolade, according to Jefferies, for the way he has come through the myriad managerial changes at Tynecastle in recent seasons. "Robbie was a player I signed and gave him his debut," began Jefferies.

"He's a terrific lad and the game that's arranged will be a good one for the supporters to come and see some of the lads who won the Scottish Cup in 1998.

"Robbie is deserving of this. He's played under five or six managers and when new managers come in they changed things but Robbie's managed to survive. That proves he has something and it's a credit to him. Robbie's a good player and has been capped for Scotland and I'm sure he'll still harbour ambitions of getting more.

"He must be one of the youngest to ever get a testimonial but he deserves it as since he was a kid he's knuckled down.

He's been a good servant so far and will be in the future to Hearts. He could have left but he stayed with Hearts. He's a very good professional and I'm chuffed to be involved in his testimonial."

Jefferies is looking forward to being back in charge of the players he guided to Scottish Cup glory ten years ago.

He said: "In 1998 we had a great run in the league and won the Scottish Cup. I think from that side only Gary Naysmith and David Weir won't be playing.

"But guys like Thomas Flogel, Gilles Rousset and Stefano Salvatori will be there, and people like Stevie Fulton and Colin Cameron. It'll be great to meet up and see how they're doing.

"I'll get the players wound up and take them back down memory lane."

Hearts will leave out skipper Christophe Berra today as another booking for the defender could see him incur a two-match ban.