New rush over new Hearts skipper

Published: 29 Jun 2009 - 15:09:09

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Robbie Neilson inherited the armband from Christophe Berra but his decision to quit for Leicester means the Jambos boss is again seeking a skipper. He has a few candidates in mind but says he will take time to consider his options during a pre-season trip to Germany. The Edinburgh side head to their base in Lower Saxony next Monday for six days, where they will face Goslar SC 08, St Pauli, Slask Wroclaw and Alemannia Aachen. "There will be somebody new who wears the armband next season, that is certain," Laszlo said. "I have a couple of candidates in mind but there is no hurry to name a captain just now. "We have games coming up in Germany and it is important to look at the attitude and mentality of the players during those matches. "After that at some point a decision can be made. "The role of the captain is an important one at any football club and I will think carefully before making any decision." Of more pressing concern for the Hearts boss is the recruitment of new players to bolster his squad for the new Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League campaign. Former Inverness Caledonian Thistle midfielder Ian Black has already penned a three-year deal and Laszlo is hopeful of seeing further new faces arrive over the coming weeks. "We are working hard together to identify and try to bring in new players," he told Hearts News. "Ideally we will have key positions filled for the matches in Germany. "Ian Black has signed and Jose Goncalves is coming back from his loan. Maybe we can have more." One of those new arrivals could be Macedonia international Ilco Naumoski, who claims Hearts have made a bid to take him to Tynecastle next season. The 25-year-old striker will be remembered by the Tartan Army for scoring the goal which gave his country a 1-0 win over Scotland in their World Cup qualifying opener. He is now a free agent after a spell with Austrian club SV Mattersburg and could be set for a move to Britain, with interest from both sides of the border. Naumoski told the Daily Record: "I will decide in the next days where I will go. There are good opportunities in Scotland and England. "I believe Hearts are one of the three that have brought an offer to the table but I don't want to go into detail at this stage. "I know Csaba Laszlo was the manager of the year in Scotland last season and my advisor speaks very highly about him."