Hearts coaches Andy Kirk and Paul Gallacher sign new contracts to stay at Tynecastle

Hearts reserve coach Andy Kirk has signed a new contract along with goalkeeping coach Paul Gallacher.

Hearts coaches Andy Kirk and Paul Gallacher have signed new contracts to stay at Tynecastle Park until summer 2021.

Kirk, the club’s reserve coach, and goalkeeping coach Gallacher have extended their agreements despite the uncertainty surrounding manager Daniel Stendel, assistant Jorg Sievers and first-team coach Dale Tonge.

Stendel’s contract is no longer valid after Hearts were relegated to the Championship, while Tonge’s deal is expiring. Sievers’ contract runs until 2022 but he is unlikely to stay if Stendel does not agree to do likewise.

Kirk and Gallacher are seen as integral members of the staff and owner Ann Budge has moved to retain their services whilst awaiting clarity on others.

Kirk told the Hearts website: “It’s great to get the extension. Obviously, the times we’re in aren’t great for everybody so having that security is a good thing.

“More importantly, though, it’s a contract extension at a football club where I love to work and where I want to be. That’s the most pleasing side of it.

“Ever since I came back to the club in 2016, at the academy, I knew what I wanted to achieve. I was very clear that, outwith playing, I wanted to get into the coaching side of it and learn as much as I could. I’ve progressed really well over the last four and a half years.

“I’ve always worked towards getting to work at first-team level. With reserves, I already had loads of contact with first team players through playing games with me during the week or with different training sessions.

“That side of transitioning into working with the first team wasn’t a problem for me. It’s a good challenge and it’s the level I want to work at so to get there on a day-to-day basis, working with that type of player and being involved with different types of pressures in games is great for me, and I’m really happy with it.

“We all love the game and having that contact with the players and staff, and being out on the football pitch every day is definitely something we all miss.

“We are all desperate to get back as soon as possible and hopefully that’ll be soon and we can go back to a bit of routine and go back to doing things that we all love to do.”

A statement on the Hearts website read: “Andy Kirk and Paul Gallacher have both signed contract extensions with Hearts.

“The coaching duo has extended their current deals by a year, keeping them at Tynecastle Park until 2021.

“First team coach Andy returned to Gorgie in 2016 as an U15s coach, following a playing career that included five years leading the frontline in a maroon shirt.

“He soon took on the reins of the club’s U17s side before leading the reserve team, and stepped up to coach the first team following the arrival of Daniel Stendel in December 2019.

“Former Scotland internationalist Paul was recruited as the club’s goalkeeping coach by then manager Robbie Neilson back in the summer of 2016.

“As well as his first team responsibilities, Paul pulls double duty by helping to coach the reserve team goalkeepers and is involved in the Hearts Academy system too.”

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