Source: Team_Talk
Driver turns focus to semi-final
Despite having now seen nine managers come and go during his six years in Gorgie, Driver was as shocked as anyone to learn about Csaba Laszlo's sacking on Friday night and equally surprised at the return of Jim Jefferies just two hours later.[LNB]But the 22-year-old, one of the longest serving players at the club, is determined not to let the drama affect preparations for Tuesday night's Co-operative Insurance Cup semi-final against St Mirren.[LNB]"It came out of the blue," Driver said of Laszlo's departure.[LNB]"I didn't learn about it until I got a text message saying I had to go through to Tynecastle. These things happen in football.[LNB]"As a professional footballer, you've just got to get your head down - you can't get involved in the politics."[LNB]Driver admitted he has not had time to process Friday's extraordinary events, which saw Laszlo given the boot after 18 months in charge for speaking out of turn too often.[LNB]But he believes Jefferies, who set up the youth system which ultimately produced him, is the right man to ensure the recent upheaval does not break Hearts' cup dream.[LNB]"I'm just happy to get the appointment in in early; it means there's no unsettled period for the players," Driver said.[LNB]"Maybe Jim Jefferies is the kind of character that the club needs at the moment.[LNB]"Time will obviously tell."[LNB]Despite welcoming Jefferies, whose first spell in charge between 1995-2000 heralded one of the most successful periods in Hearts' recent history, Driver believes there was no need for change.[LNB]"I didn't feel there was a need but the hierarchy have obviously felt that's what was needed," he said.[LNB]Of lifelong Jambos fan and former club captain Jefferies, he added: "He's obviously a legend at the club and someone a young player like me would obviously like to work with.[LNB]"He's got bags of experience and I think a few of the younger ones - we've got a few of them in the team now - could learn a lot from him."[LNB]As well as upsetting majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov by repeatedly bemoaning the club's transfer policy and touting himself for other jobs, Laszlo came under fire for his negative tactics this season.[LNB]But Driver insisted there was no disenchantment from the dressing room.[LNB]"We're professional footballers; our job is to go onto the pitch and do as the manager tells us," said the winger, who made his first appearance for almost three months as a substitute in Saturday's 1-0 SPL defeat at St Johnstone.[LNB]"We played the system the old manager liked. The new manager might have different views on that. We've got to do what he tells us to do as well."[LNB]Laszlo is currently consulting his lawyers amid reports Hearts will attempt to avoid compensating him for the final 18 months of his contract by claiming his public attacks on the club and willingness to discuss other jobs amount to a breach.[LNB][LNB]
