Savage: I gave everything I could to Jambos..the only DET thing missing was a trophy

Former Tynie football director still proud of progress made as he begins hunt for new role

- DARREN WITCOOP

IT'S been just under five months since Joe Savage stepped away from Hearts but he's already got an itch to scratch.

Savage has been working as a consultant since leaving his post as sporting director at Tynecastle in July.

And he said: "I needed to refresh and recharge my batteries. But I've got fire in the belly and I'm ready to go again and find the right club and the right project Hearts and Savage was certainly the right club, the right project and at the right time.

The Jambos finished the Premiership in third, fourth and third place in successive seasons following promotion back to the top-tier.

It would be churlish to say Savage's summer exit after threeand-a-half years as sporting director has coincided with Hearts' nightmare season.

But there's little doubt there is a lot of work required to make sure the progress made at Tynecastle in recent years does not go to waste.

Savage said: "I'm proud of the job we all did. We made history in the fact that we qualified for Europe in three successive seasons via our league position.

"The only thing missing was a trophy. That's one that still irks me as it got away. We reached the Scottish Cup Final but had five of the starting line-up carrying injuries.