Walking on maroon: Gary Locke's feet have hardly touched the ground since returning to club he loves

By the time Hearts kick off against Rangers at lunchtime tomorrow, his feet should have just about landed back on earth.

"I've been walking about on a high to be honest," he says, stifling a grin. "The dressing room last Saturday was brilliant. There was a bit of doom and gloom about the place when we first came in, but after last weekend the boys were in great spirits. A lot of people over the course of this season maybe questioned the spirit in the dressing room, but it's a great spirit. I'd like to think we've played a wee part in that."

Locke certainly made a significant contribution. His role as third in rank behind manager Jim Jefferies and assistant Billy Brown is ideally suited to a 34-year-old who was a regular SPL player until two years ago. Injury curtailed his career but, unlike most of his contemporaries, he was prepared for that eventuality.

Locke, in case you aren't aware, is a dyed-in-the-wool Jambo, the bleeds-maroon-when-you-cut kind. He always had designs on working at Tynecastle in a coaching capacity, although maybe not quite as soon as this.

"I'm only slightly older than some of the players here so, in coaching terms, I'm young," he continues. "It was unfortunate that I had to finish my career early through injury at Kilmarnock but I kind of knew that was going to happen three or four years ago. That's why I sat my coaching badges early because it was something I wanted to get involved in once I finished.

"I've had the luckiest break possible because I'm now at the club I love and the place I want to be. I want to be a success here. I think I can be the link between the dressing room and the management. If the players want to speak about one or two things, I can be the man in the middle. It's a role I'm really enjoying."

His aspirations don't end there, either. "The (UEFA] Pro Licence is the next thing I'm looking to do." He currently holds an A Licence, one step away from Pro. "I think the next course starts in December so I'm looking to get involved in that. Once that's done and out the way I can just concentrate on doing what I love best, which is being out there with the players.

"I've still to speak to the club about it but I don't foresee any problems getting on the course. If I get it done I will have the badges needed to go on. I'm first-team coach just now but in years to come I'd maybe be looking to step up, as any coach would. That's what I aim to do in the not too distant future."

Locke conducts this interview clutching a piece of paper and a blue Biro. Etched on the paper is a football pitch, for training begins in under an hour and he has planning to do with Rangers looming. The impression is he might make a decent gaffer when the time comes.

"I'd like to think I can add one or two things on the training ground. When the gaffer and Billy are picking the team, I have my say in that as well. I don't want to be seen as a coach who just sits and does what he's told. I like to try and have an input and the gaffer and Billy let me have that.

"I'd like to think the majority of fans are happy I'm back here along with the gaffer and Billy. The reception we've had so far has been fantastic so we just need to stick together."

He is quick to reject theories that Riccarton remains a venue for unadulterated chaos. That may have been the case during the worst of Vladimir Romanov's coach/player rotation policy a few seasons ago, but there is an air of solemnity about Hearts' training ground these days.

Sessions are planned and organised, players know their roles, non-footballing staff go about their business quietly and everything, although busy, seems in order. In fact, it is an environment conducive to an aspiring young coach seeking to broaden his horizons and gain vital experience.

"I'm seeing another side of things now," says Locke. "I was involved in coaching the Kilmarnock reserves for two and a half years but I was still playing at the time. Now, once training's finished, you aren't just going home. You're staying behind and I'm learning a lot from the gaffer and Billy every day.

"It's just simple wee things like what has to be organised away from the training ground and meeting agents and other people. Seeing all that type of thing and the organisational side of it is all part of the experience. I'm really enjoying it. Being at such a huge club, a lot happens off the pitch and you have a lot to do. But it's something I'm thriving on.

"It's chaotic in the sense that it's a huge club and everybody wants to know what's going on. Everybody likes to know what is happening behind the scenes. This is a massive club so obviously it's going to be chaotic behind the scenes. I'm learning every day, which is the most important thing for me. To get this opportunity at such an early stage in my coaching career is a dream come true. I said that the minute I walked through the door."

Stepping momentarily off his aforementioned cloud, Locke is fully aware of the significance of tomorrow's league encounter. Victory over Rangers could leave Hearts needing just a solitary point to secure a top-six place, and their first-team coach is eager to harness the exhilaration of derby success.

"It's been difficult coming back down to earth after such a pleasing result against Hibs but you have to move on," he explains. "We have another big game this weekend and, if we win, we are looking good for the top six. That's the most important thing at the moment. It's been a great week for the club but you can't rest on your laurels. Everybody was on a high and training was great on Monday morning. It's the same after any win but we were delighted with the way things went last weekend. If we can produce another few performances like that between now and the end of the season we'll win more than we'll lose.

"The Hibs result is only a great result if we can push on and play the same way tomorrow. There's no point playing as we did against Hibs and then letting ourselves down against Rangers. That seems to have been the case for the majority of this season. The team has done well in certain games and not done so well in others. If we can get a bit of consistency between now and the end of the season we hope to finish on a high, give everybody a lift and then we can all look forward to next season.

"I don't think Rangers should be wary of us. They are top of the league and the benchmark for everyone. It looks like they're going to be champions again so we are under no illusions about how difficult the game will be. If we play how we did against Hibs, I'm confident we can give Rangers a very difficult game."

Should another win ensue, expect Locke to be catapulted off on another emotional high. He will always return to Jefferies and Brown, however. The pair's influence on his career has been a constant ever since their early days together. They appointed him captain of Hearts, won the Scottish Cup with him, took him to Bradford City, then Kilmarnock, and now back to Tynecastle for his maiden coaching position.

"Och, I owe them millions," he says. "I'd like to think I've paid them back in some respects as a player, but they've given me my first step on the coaching ladder at such a big club. I'm learning every day and from two of the best. I found out the gaffer got the Hearts job while watching Sky Sports. I didn't know anything about it beforehand. Obviously I was delighted for him and when he phoned me (about joining him] I couldn't sleep that night. I was just too excited. I knew I was coming back home."

Fittingly, Locke's last competitive appearance as a player came at Tynecastle as an 87th-minute substitute for Kilmarnock in their 2-0 victory over Hearts on 10 May 2008.

Almost two years later, he is back. Different role, one purpose – ensuring Hearts are successful.