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• Couldn’t have done much more – Gordon sure Naismith has passed Hearts audition

  Hearts captain Craig Gordon believes Steven Naismith could not have done much more in his interim reign and feels the squad would be happy for the former Scotland forward to get an extended run at the job.

  The Tynecastle board are discussing the managerial vacancy this week, with some directors reported to be in favour in handing Naismith a permanent contract after he led Hearts to European qualification.

  After succeeding Robbie Neilson on the back of five consecutive defeats which saw Hearts slip to fourth, Naismith won two and drew three of his seven games in charge as the Jambos finished three points behind third-placed Aberdeen.

  Gordon, who was speaking at Camstradden Primary School in Drumchapel to highlight the work of the Scottish Football Association’s Learning Through Football programme, said: “He has stepped up for the last seven games and everybody within the squad has been very happy with the way things have gone and how he has gone about it.

  “The players bought into everything he was trying to get them to do. He spoke really well in team meetings.

  “I think the players would be happy with that (Naismith getting the job). We will see what happens over the next week or so when the board gets together and what options they have. But certainly I think he did pretty well over those seven games.

  “He is very driven, and very clear in what he is looking for from the players. It’s been a big seven weeks for him to come in and the games we have faced but he has got a response from the players.

  “He did a very good job. Whether he becomes the full-time manager or not, I think he can hold his head up high because it was a difficult time to come in, we were on a very bad run of form, and we managed to pick up a little bit and turn things around. From his point of view he couldn’t have done much more.”

  Gordon played with Naismith for many years for Scotland before they linked up on the park with Hearts.

  “As a player you absolutely saw he had that drive and the love of the game to go into coaching,” the goalkeeper said.

  “He has always seen the game really well as a player and able to talk others through the game.

  “He got into the B team at Hearts and done very well over the season and improved a lot of the players, and I think that’s a great sign as a young coach.”

  Gordon is aiming to be involved under Naismith or a new manager after missing the second half of the season following a double leg break on Boxing Day, but he will not be fully fit for the start of pre-season.

  “I have a big summer of rehab,” the 40-year-old said. “I will be working in the gym with the physios right throughout the off-season, and then I have got to go back and see the surgeons again in the middle of July and see how things are progressing.

  “I will probably know a little more about how long it’s going to take after that.”

• Cammy Kerr wants to ‘make more memories that will last a lifetime’ at Dundee

  Long-serving defender Cammy Kerr declared “there is no place I would rather be” as he prepares to continue his association with Dundee for another two years.

  The 27-year-old has spent his entire career with his boyhood club – apart from a couple of loan stints at Peterhead – but it was unclear if he would remain at Dens Park beyond this summer, with his deal expiring amid reported interest from other clubs.

  However, Dundee announced on Tuesday – a day after the appointment of new manager Tony Docherty – that Kerr has signed a contract extension until 2025 as they prepare to return to the cinch Premiership following their Championship title win.

  “I am absolutely delighted to sign a contract extension with Dundee Football Club,” Kerr told the Dark Blues’ website.

  “The past year has been a particularly special one for me as it brought along my 250th appearance in my testimonial year and I cannot thank the fans enough for their support in those events.

  “To top it all off by winning the league made it extra special, memories to last a lifetime. But it’s now time to be better and make more memories that will last a lifetime.

  “To represent Dundee Football Club is something that I could have only dreamed of as a young lad and it fills me with pride every time I pull on the dark blue.

  “There is no place I would rather be, Dundee till I die.”

  Kerr follows highly-regarded young midfielder Lyall Cameron in signing a new deal with Dundee this month, although the squad remains threadbare with most of the squad that won the Championship under recently-departed boss Gary Bowyer currently out of contract.

• Mauricio Pochettino does not want to keep Joao Felix – Atletico Madrid president

  Joao Felix is heading back to Atletico Madrid with Chelsea choosing not to retain the Portugal winger following his loan deal, according to the Spanish club’s president Enrique Cerezo.

  Felix, 23, joined Chelsea on loan in January for the remainder of the 2022-23 campaign and went on to score four goals in 20 appearances for the Blues.

  On Monday, after a difficult campaign in which they finished a lowly 12th in the Premier League, Chelsea announced the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino as their new head coach.

  And, as reported by Marca, Cerezo said of Felix: “The truth is that I can’t tell you the plan with Joao.

  “It’s the news we had yesterday, that the new coach doesn’t have him for Chelsea. We don’t have anything planned yet, Joao is an Atletico player now.”

  Atletico paid £113million to sign Felix, who is under contract with them until 2027, from Benfica in 2019.

  He has made 131 appearances for Diego Simeone’s side, scoring 34 goals, and helped them win the 2020-21 LaLiga title.