Former Hearts captain and new first-team coach Gary Locke assesses recent events and heralds dawn of new era

• Gary Locke

The campaign just ended was one peppered with frustration for Romanov, Locke and everyone else concerned with Tynecastle affairs. Results often fluctuated between exhilarating and downright infuriating from one week to the next, culminating in a sixth-place league finish. Consistency largely eluded Hearts, a fact which contributed to Romanov's decision to dispense with manager Csaba Laszlo in late January.

Jim Jefferies' reinstatement in place of Laszlo reunited Locke with the club he has idolised since childhood. He became first-team coach, with Billy Brown in his familiar assistant's role.

The triumvirate all harboured lofty aspirations but suspected their playing staff would not be properly prepared to realise those until next season. So it proved. A 0-0 draw with Dundee United in the penultimate round of league fixtures, coupled with Hibernian's astonishing 6-6 draw at Fir Park, confirmed there would be no forthcoming European campaign. That did not mean an absence of positives, however.

Locke believes a more bolshy on-field approach is already paying dividends. His ultimate aim is to help restore Hearts as Scotland's unrivalled third force and to mount a genuine, sustained threat to Rangers and Celtic; exactly the kind of man to fulfil Romanov's ambitions for the main club in the UBIG footballing empire.

There is much to carry over from last season. Laszlo's discipline and methodical approach undoubtedly improved defensive players such as Marius Zaliukas, Eggert Jonsson and Lee Wallace during his 18-month tenure. Those three are likely to form the backbone of the "new Hearts".

Jefferies' motivational techniques had an invigorating effect on others, like Ian Black and David Obua. Combined with the continuous homegrown talent rolling off the Riccarton conveyor belt and a smattering of summer signings, there is genuine cause for optimism ahead of season 2010-11.

"The pleasing thing is that I'd say the performances have been better, we've certainly been looking more likely to win games," said Locke.

"I think the general feeling amongst the supporters is that they're pleased we're back and that the team is performing.

"Mr Romanov was over a couple of weeks ago and we were introduced to him. It was good to meet him and I'm really looking forward to working under him and working for Hearts. I aim to do as well as I can. I've met Sergey (Fedotovas] a few times now as well and all the rest of the staff. All the people at the club are fantastic and I get on really well with them. It makes for a good environment to work in.

"The most important thing is the players. When you read their interviews and what they're saying in the papers, they seem to be enjoying training and the freedom to go and attack. We haven't been here a long time and I reckon the telling point will be next season. We were looking to get into the top six but we wanted to get the team playing a wee bit more and I think we've done that.

"The feedback is great. I can get a wee bit closer to the players as first-team coach. We have a good squad of players, who are generally very young, and I try to pass on what knowledge I have. I always enjoyed going in to work as a player and I always enjoyed training, that's a massive part of being a professional footballer. If you're happy going in to your work, you will do better. That's the approach we've tried to apply.

"We're still very serious about a lot of things but, on the whole, we try to make training different and keep it high tempo and enjoyable. I think the players have definitely responded to that.

"I think we now have to look at getting into the top six and then improving on this season. For a club the size of Hearts, the ambitions have to be that you're up there challenging. I don't think it's wrong to set targets to challenge Rangers and Celtic. Through my years as a player and fan here, that's where Hearts should be.

"I'm not saying we'll win the league but we should be in the top six, there isn't any question about that. You have to be ambitious as a player and ambitious as a coach. The cups are huge for the club and I've had a taste of winning a trophy with Hearts. But you have to look to challenge for third or fourth place."

Hearts' season started in rather chaotic fashion last August with a 2-0 defeat to Dundee United at Tannadice preceding a 4-0 loss to Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League play-off round. They recovered to defeat the Croatians 2-0 in the return leg but exited the competition at the first hurdle on a 4-2 aggregate.

League form gradually suffered and, by early December, Hearts sat just a point off second bottom of the SPL having suffered the ignominy of five red cards in the 'Battle of New Douglas Park'. Then came a pivotal moment: Celtic's visit to Tynecastle five days before Christmas. A Michael Stewart penalty and Ismael Bouzid's memorable diving header secured an unexpected 2-1 win and a rejuvenation began that would haul the club into the top six. But when things came crashing down on 27 January with Aberdeen's 3-0 victory in Gorgie, Laszlo paid the price.

The Hearts hierarchy had grown irritated by the Hungarian's public utterances linking himself with managerial vacancies elsewhere. If supporters were disheartened at losing the man who guided their club to third place in the SPL the previous year, the dejection quickly subsided when it was announced Jefferies would take his place.

Immediately, a change of approach on the field was detectable as Hearts went on the offensive, although they were eliminated from the Co-operative Insurance Cup by St Mirren at the semi-final stage after overcoming Dunfermline and Celtic in previous rounds. Hibernian were defeated 2-1 at Tynecastle in March and top-six status was secured with April's 1-0 triumph over Jefferies' former club, Kilmarnock. With Brown and Locke by his side, the 59-year-old was stamping his authority. Locke could only look on in admiration.

"I'm keen to do as well as I can and learn every day," continued Locke. "I'm young in terms of coaching but I'm learning from two of the best in the business. I'm just really enjoying being part of a massive club in my eyes.

"The first few months have been a great experience and I aim to learn a lot more in the years to come. Obviously, long-term, management is something I'd like to get involved in. Just now this is where I want to be and what I'm learning just now will stand me in good stead for the future."

Securing European football for next season proved a step too far but Jefferies devoted a large part of his time in recent months to planning for next season. Stewart, Jose Goncalves, Larry Kingston and Christian Nade are out of contract and have left the club. The freedom to recruit replacements is there, provided there is consultation with Romanov.

"It's the manager who deals with all that side of things. I've only met Mr Romanov briefly but we finished the season really well and hopefully we can start next season really well and get ourselves up the table," said Locke.

The other principal issue to be addressed this summer is the role of club captain. Stewart vacated the armband and Zaliukas is favourite to assume the position, although Jonsson and Wallace remain in contention. Locke, who captained Hearts in his early 90s, offered some advice to the new incumbent.

"It's a massive role because this is a massive club. For me, growing up, it was the biggest club in the country because I'm a Hearts man through and through. I looked upon the captaincy as a big responsibility.

"If you look at all the captains who have represented Hearts, they've all been good players and I'm sure whoever takes on the captaincy next year will do a terrific job."