Stephen Robinson bemused by Hearts pressure mounting on Steven Naismith despite horror start
Stephen Robinson admits he's bemused by the pressure mounting on Steven Naismith's shoulders at Hearts.
Naismith led the Jambos to a third-place finish last season but is fighting for his job after a horror start to the new campaign. The Tynecastle club languish bottom of the Premiership with just one point from their opening five games. Today's trip to Paisley has been labelled as a must-win by some punters but Robinson insists his SPFL rival deserves more time to turn things around.
The St Mirren boss has the utmost respect for his fellow Stewarton local, even if they have never bumped into one another in the East Ayrshire town. They have shared many chats over the phone, though, and while Robinson is going out all out for three points today, he hopes Gorgie chiefs show more patience with their under-fire manager.
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He said: "I haven't seen Naisy in Stewarton, no. It's a big place. He lives in the nice part while I live in the smaller houses! We speak regularly, though, so I have a lot of time for Steven. He's a terrific manager. I've respect for every manager who is brave enough to put their neck on the line because this industry is brutal.
"It's the narrative when you've lost a couple of games, but I find it incredible when a manager's got into Europe. You're telling me there's pressure on him, but I don't know about that. I don't read Hearts media especially. But I've got utmost respect for him. He's done a terrific job and he's signed some very good players. On Saturday you put that out the window because it's your neck on the line as well."
He added: "This is just the industry we work in. It's crazy. In any other business, you put a business plan together for maybe three or four years. In football you appoint a manager after doing your due diligence. But within three results a little bit of pressure comes from the stands and all of a sudden it's not the right person. I find it incredible.
"It's been proven over time when clubs have stability that people are successful and relatively successful in whatever they're trying to aim for. Look at Sir Alex Ferguson, Mikel Arteta at Arsenal, Pep Guardiola - all the bigger clubs have stuck with managers who went through a little bit of a sticky stage to start with and they've had their rewards.
"But you need bravery for that, you need people to have belief in that. When the pressure turns on other people the manager is the easy person to sack and we understand that. It's not a complaint from me, I just think it's crazy business sense."