HEARTS manager Robbie Neilson has challenged his players to close the gap on the Old Firm while maintaining their European campaign.
Sporting director Joe Savage has gone one step further by insisting he eventually wants Hearts challenging Celtic and Rangers for the Premiership title.
Hearts finished some 32 and 28 points behind champions Celtic and runners up Rangers respectively last season in taking the title as the best of the rest in the top-flight.
They will now enter the Europa League at the play-off round, but have the consolation of dropping into the Europa Conference League group stages should they lose that tie.
And Neilson hopes Hearts can compete both domestically and in Europe next term.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Neilson, whose side kick off their league campaign at home to Ross County next Saturday after facing Stoke City in their final friendly today, said: “It’s part and parcel being at Hearts with expectations growing.
“When we came in we were in the Championship after being demoted, the first objective was to get back up to the top flight, the next objective was to get into the top six, then it was Europe.
“We managed to do that very quickly and now it’s a case of pushing as high up the league as we can, we try to aim for Celtic and Rangers, while maintaining a European campaign.”
Sporting director Savage said: “I want to win the league. That is my personal ambition. People can call me deluded for that.
“It is eleven men versus eleven men on a pitch and if we are organised and we train properly like Robbie and his coaching staff do, then I think there is every chance we can do that.
“Am I saying it is going to happen in the next year or two or three? Probably not. But why am I here?
“Finishing third sounds good but why do you not want to try and win the league? Why don’t we try and get as close to them as we possibly can?
“I know it is going to be difficult. I am not saying we are going to do it any time soon, but that is the ultimate ambition.
“That is what I say to the players when we are trying to sign them. Come here and help us split then, help us get there.
“It might not happen but it won’t be for a lack of trying.”
