Ex-Hearts striker Calum Elliot hails 'outstanding achievement' after guiding Tynecastle FC invincibles to East of Scotland title

Undefeated Meggetland side were declared Conference B champions after vote to end season

Former Hearts striker Calum Elliot is now manager of Tynecastle FC.

Former Hearts striker Calum Elliot has hailed the 'outstanding achievement' of his Tynecastle FC side after securing an invincible league title in his first full season as manager.

His unbeaten league leaders were declared East of Scotland League Conference B champions last Friday after a vote by member clubs to conclude the season on a points-per-game basis in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Elliot, who retired from senior football five ago due to persistent knee problems, was appointed manager of the Meggetland side in November 2018.

This season the 33-year-old guided the club to 21 victories from 23 league games, drawing the other two, to sit 20 points ahead of second-placed Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts when the season was stopped.

Elliot told the club website: "Firstly, I would like to say a huge congratulations to everyone involved within Tynecastle Football Club; the volunteers, the committee, the coaches, the loyal people who have to watch us throughout the season and of course the players.

"It’s an outstanding achievement and everyone has played their part in becoming conference B champions.

"Of course we would have loved to have finished the season in style and enjoyed that moment in the changing room after the boys reaped the rewards for a year's hard work.

"However, it wasn’t to be, but as the leader of the group I’m extremely proud of the team's achievements.

"I have had to get after them a few times this season but in all honesty the standards they have set in training and games have made my job easy.

"The players have had a phenomenal season. Breaking a lot of club and league records in the process.

"23 games played, 21 wins, 2 draws and 125 scored. They have been absolutely relentless in their pursuit of victories and a joy to watch throughout an unforgiving league campaign which has now ended undefeated."

Tynecastle will now be promoted into the Premier League and Elliot is looking forward to the test.

"We know the challenge that now awaits us in the Premier League - it’s one we are now ready for," he said.

"We will approach it as a group with real hard work and determination as we continue to become the best team we can be.

"Hopefully it won’t be long until the boys are on the training pitch, ready to push themselves to the limits again."