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McAvoy: Old Firm good enough for English Premier League but aim Is to come between them

- FRASER WILSON 

FRANKIE McAVOY reckons Celtic and Rangers are good enough and big enough to compete down south in the Premier League. 

But that won’t stop the newly installed Hearts head coach trying to split Glasgow’s big two while he’s at Tynecastle and they’re in the Scottish Premiership.

McAvoy took a break from the searing sunshine on the Jam Tarts’ pre-season training camp in Marbella yesterday to speak to the Press for the first time since being confirmed as the new man in charge in Gorgie.

And it’s clear the 55-year-old former Preston boss won’t shy away from the heat of the battle.

He’ll work closely with Steven Naismith and Gordon Forrest – the trio who took charge for the final seven games of last season – but McAvoy is adamant he’ll have the final say on team selection when the top flight resumes in just over a month’s time.

His aims are clear. To try to win every game. To play attacking football. To qualify for the Europa Conference League group stage. And to wrestle back third spot from Aberdeen – if not go one better.

Asked if third was the target McAvoy admitted the pain of relinquishing that spot to the Dons last season still resonates.

He said: “Ultimately that’s where we want to try and be.

“If we’re good enough to try and split the big two in Glasgow then that would be fantastic.