The 2014–15 season was the 134th season of competitive football by Heart of Midlothian and the first under new ownership following the club's exit from administration on 11 June 2014. Following 31 consecutive seasons in the top level of Scottish football, this was the club's first season of play in the second tier of Scottish football since the 1982–83 season, having been relegated from the Scottish Premiership to the Scottish Championship at the end of the previous season. Hearts also competed in the Challenge Cup, League Cup and the Scottish Cup.
Results and fixtures Pre-season / Friendlies Hearts returned for pre-season training on 26 June, before heading to England for a four-day training camp in Chester, with games against Ludogorets Razgrad and Dinamo București. On return to Scotland the club travelled to Hamilton Academical and East Fife, before hosting Manchester City in a glamour friendly at Tynecastle to celebrate the centenary of the main stand. The remainder of the pre-season fixtures were spent on the road, with games against Dundee, a Testimonial for Steven Anderson at St Johnstone and lastly against Cowdenbeath.
Scottish Championship
Scottish Challenge Cup
Hearts entered the Challenge cup for the first time in their history and were placed in the south section of the draw. The draw took place on 2 July 2014 and the club were drawn against Scottish League Two side Annan Athletic.
Scottish League Cup
Having played in the Scottish Premiership during the previous season and not qualified for the Europa League, Hearts entered the League Cup at the second round stage. The draw was held on 6 August 2014 and the club were drawn away from home against Scottish League One side Stenhousemuir.
Scottish Cup
First team player statistics
Captains NoPosNameCountryNo of gamesNotes4DFWilson33Club captain6MFGomis6Vice-captain22DFMcKay2Vice-captain
Squad information During the 2014–15 season, Hearts have used thirty-five different players in competitive games. The table below includes all players who have been part of the first team during the season. They may not have made an appearance. Last updated 2 May 2015 NumberPositionNationNameTotalsChampionshipChallenge CupLeague CupScottish CupAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals Appearances (starts and substitute appearances) and goals include those in Scottish Premiership, Challenge Cup, League Cup and the Scottish Cup.
Disciplinary record During the 2014–15 season, Hearts players have been issued with sixty-six yellow cards and five reds. The table below shows the number of cards and type shown to each player. Last updated 2 May 2015 NumberNationPositionNameChampionshipChallenge CupLeague CupScottish CupTotal 1GKNeil Alexander1000000010 2DFCallum Paterson5100000051 3DFKevin McHattie2000100030 4DFDanny Wilson6000000060 5DFAlim Öztürk90001000100 6MFMorgaro Gomis110000001111 7MFJamie Walker3000000030 8MFScott Robinson0000000000 9FWSoufian El Hassnaoui0000100010 10MFJason Holt2000000020 11MFSam Nicholson0000000000 12FWBilly King1000000010 13GKJack Hamilton1000000010 14FWDavid Smith0000000000 14MFMiguel Pallardó3000000030 15GKScott Gallacher0000000000 16FWGary Oliver1000000010 17MFPrince Buaben4100000041 18FWDale Carrick0000000000 19FWJames Keatings2000000020 20FWOsman Sow2100000021 21MFKenny Anderson0000000000 22DFBrad McKay2100001031 23FWGénero Zeefuik2000000020 25GKLee Hollis0000000000 26DFLiam Gordon0000000000 27MFAngus Beith0000000000 28MFRobbie Buchanan0000000000 29DFLiam Smith0010000010 30DFJordan McGhee1000000010 31DFLiam Henderson0000000000 32FWAlistair Roy0000000000 33MFAaron Scott0000000000 34MFSean McKirdy0000000000 35MFNathan Flanagan0000000000 36MFIan Smith0000000000 41GKBryn Halliwell0000000000 44DFAdam Eckersley3000000030
Top scorers Last updated on 2 May 2015 PositionNationNumberNameChampionshipChallenge CupLeague CupScottish CupTotal123Género Zeefuik1200012=20Osman Sow111001237Jamie Walker1100011=19James Keatings1100011512Billy King8100962Callum Paterson6100774Danny Wilson50005=11Sam Nicholson50005917Prince Buaben40004=5Alim Öztürk40004=9Soufian El Hassnaoui40004123Kevin McHattie201031316Gary Oliver10102=18Dale Carrick20002=30Jordan McGhee20002=10Jason Holt20002=44Adam Eckersley200021814Miguel Pallardó10001=21Kenny Anderson10001=6Morgaro Gomis10001=22Brad McKay10001
Own goals Last updated on 2 May 2015 PositionNationNumberNameChampionshipChallenge CupLeague CupScottish CupTotalDF 44 Adam Eckersley 0 0 1 0 1
Clean sheets {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align: center;" |- ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" width=60| ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" width=60| ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" width=60| ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" width=150|Name ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" width=80|Championship ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" width=80|Challenge Cup ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" width=80|League Cup ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" width=80|Scottish Cup ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" width=80|Total |- |1 |GK | |Neil Alexander |13 |0 |0 |0 |13 |- |2 |GK | |Jack Hamilton |2 |0 |0 |0 |2 |- |3 |GK | |Scott Gallacher |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
! Totals !! 15 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 15
Team statistics
League table
Division summary
Management statistics Last updated on 2 May 2015 NameFromToPWDLWin%2 May 2015
Club
Club staff
NameRole Robbie Neilson Head coach Stevie Crawford Assistant head coach Roger Arnott Academy Manager Jack Ross U20s Player Development Manager John MurrayChief Scout Rob MarshallHead PhysiotherapistScott WilsonStadium Announcer
Boardroom NameRole Ann BudgeExecutive chairwoman Robert WilsonDeputy CEO/Director of Strategic Planning Eric HoggOperations Director Ian MurrayFoundation of Hearts representative Craig LeveinDirector of Football
Playing kit Hearts kits were manufactured by Adidas for the 2014–15 season, having signed a long-term deal two seasons previously. The new home kit for the season is a modern twist on the kit used during the 1914–15 season and pays tribute to the squad and the anniversary of McCrae's Battalion. The club lost seven players during World War I, John Allan, James Boyd, Duncan Currie, Ernest Ellis, Tom Gracie, James Speedie and Harry Wattie. As a mark of respect the kit features no sponsor and a unique badge. Speaking about the kit the club said that “The strip for season 2014/15 is dedicated to the club's greatest ever team which went to war in 1914,” “Their efforts have been recorded in story and in song and we felt strongly that the centenary of this side should now be marked in an appropriate fashion by the current first-team players. “Having consulted the supporters about a commemorative crest, we believe the unique badge for the new season is another fitting tribute to the team of 1914–15 and we would like to take this opportunity to thank the SPFL and the Scottish FA for granting their approval of this change. The club's new home kit went on sale to people who had preordered on 15 May, priced at £45.00 for an adults top with kids priced at £35.00. The kit went on general public sale on 9 June, having been delayed from 15 May due to over 4,000 pre orders being taken for the new kit.
The away kit for the 2014–15 season is sponsored as a gift from the club by The Foundation of Hearts, ending the clubs association with previous commercial shirt sponsor Wonga.com. The kit went on sale to the public on 4 July, at the same pricing. A limited edition clean version of the away kit, without the sponsor logo, was released on 5 August.
Awards The following Hearts players were also included in the Scottish Championship PFA Scotland Team of the Year, Neil Alexander, Alim Öztürk, Danny Wilson, Morgaro Gomis, Jamie Walker and Osman Sow.
League awards NationNameAwardRobbie NeilsonScottish Championship Manager of the Month August 2014Robbie NeilsonScottish Championship Manager of the Month October 2014Robbie NeilsonScottish Championship Manager of the Month November 2014Robbie NeilsonScottish Championship Manager of the Month March 2015
Club awards NationNameAwardLewis MooreHeart of Midlothian U17s Player of the YearRobbie BuchananHeart of Midlothian U20s Player of the YearJamie WalkerHeart of Midlothian Young Player of the YearAlim ÖztürkHeart of Midlothian Goal of the YearAlim ÖztürkMoment of the yearJamie WalkerHeart of Midlothian Fans Player of the YearMorgaro GomisHeart of Midlothian Player's Player of the YearIan BrownGeorge Nicolson Memorial AwardGordon PatersonDoc Melvin Memorial Cup
Transfers
Players in DatePlayerFromFee12 June 2014 Morgaro Gomis Dundee UnitedFree13 June 2014 James Keatings Hamilton AcademicalFree16 June 2014 Soufian El Hassnaoui Sparta RotterdamFree23 June 2014 Neil Alexander Crystal PalaceFree23 June 2014 Liam Henderson Hutchison ValeFree23 June 2014 Alistair Roy Stirling AlbionFree26 June 2014 Alim Öztürk TrabzonsporFree17 July 2014 Prince Buaben Carlisle UnitedFree18 July 2014 Scott Gallacher RangersFree21 July 2014 Osman Sow Crystal PalaceFree25 July 2014 Robbie Brown AC OxgangsFree15 August 2014 Lee Hollis MotherwellFree21 August 2014 Adam Eckersley AGFFree11 September 2014 Miguel Pallardo LevanteFree23 January 2015 Jake Hutchings Torquay UnitedFree2 February 2015 Kenny Anderson WaalwijkUndisclosed
Players out DatePlayerToFee12 May 2014 Jamie MacDonald FalkirkFree12 May 2014 Jamie Hamill KilmarnockFree12 May 2014 Dylan McGowan Adelaide UnitedFree12 May 2014 Mark Ridgers St MirrenFree12 May 2014 Callum Tapping Brechin CityFree14 May 2014 Jordan MillarFree14 May 2014 Kai WilsonFree14 May 2014 Elliot FordFree14 May 2014 Sam DanielFree14 May 2014 Rhys CraigieFree14 May 2014 Jack Simpson Hamilton AcademicalFree30 May 2014 Ryan Stevenson Partick ThistleFree1 September 2014 Lee HollisFree23 January 2015 Aaron Scott HibernianFree
Loans and temporary transfers In DatePlayerFromFee20 August 2014 Bryn Halliwell ShettlestonEmergency Transfer8 January 2015 Género Zeefuik GroningenLoan
Loans and temporary transfers out DatePlayerToFee25 July 2014 Jack Hamilton StenhousemuirLoan29 August 2014 Liam Smith East FifeLoan1 September 2014 Gary Oliver StenhousemuirLoan10 October 2014 Aaron Scott Preston AthleticLoan10 October 2014 Liam Henderson Preston AthleticLoan10 October 2014 Alistair Roy Preston AthleticLoan27 November 2014 Angus Beith Stirling AlbionLoan30 January 2015 Jason Holt Sheffield UnitedLoan30 January 2015 Dale Carrick Raith RoversLoan30 January 2015 Liam Gordon ArbroathLoan
Contract extensions The following players extended their contracts with the club over the course of the season. DatePlayerLengthExpiry12 May 2014 Jason Holt1 year201512 May 2014 Jamie Walker1 year201512 May 2014 Dale Carrick1 year201512 May 2014 Jack Hamilton1 year201512 May 2014 Brad McKay1 year201512 May 2014 David Smith1 year201516 June 2014 Sam Nicholson3 years201724 June 2014 Gary Oliver1 year201515 July 2014 Callum Paterson3 years201723 July 2014 Angus Beith2 years201623 July 2014 Liam Smith2 years201625 July 2014 Jack Hamilton3 years201725 July 2014 Dale Carrick2 years201625 July 2014 Kevin McHattie2 years201631 July 2014 Jamie Walker3 years201714 January 2015 Jordan McGhee years2017
See also List of Heart of Midlothian F.C. seasons
Notes
References