GAFFER OF THE YEAR; TYNECASTLE LATEST.

Byline: ANTHONY HAGGERTY

MICHAEL STEWART admitted he feared the worst when he learned Hearts wanted Uganda's coach as their new gaffer.

Now the Jambos midfielder reckons it will be a travesty if Csaba Laszlo is not named Manager of theYear.

Stewart thought a fan was pulling his leg when he told him about the appointment.

But he soon learned Laszlo was no joke within two minutes of his first meeting with the squad.

He reckons the Hungarian can emulate Tony Mowbray, who had a similar impact on Scottish football at Hibs and won the coveted manager of the year gong for guiding the Easter Road outfit from a bottom-six club to European campaigners.

Former Manchester United and Scotland Under-21 cap Stewart said: "The race for the award is a nocontest - it has to be Csaba.

"I remember standing on the pitch doing a kit promotion last season and a punter came down from the stand and told me Hearts were speaking to the Uganda national manager.

"My initial reaction was disbelief but within a couple of minutes of that first meeting we all thought, 'Bloody hell, he knows what he's talking about'. That first impression has had a lasting effect.

"To a man we came away from the dressing room believing Laszlo was very professional and going to be good at what he does.

"Some people can't make out whether his is a mad-cap or a genius. I think he is both.

Reason

"Laszlo did not take this club over from ground level - it was more sub-basement and the confidence was low.

"But he has turned the club around - just as Mowbray did with Hibs. He got the manager of the year award in his first season and I don't see any reason why Laszlo can't win it."

Laszlo's tactics helped Hearts cement a top-six finish after Saturday's 3-1 win over Kilmarnock and they are third in the SPL, seven points ahead of their rivals. Stewart insists the Jambos are desperate to complete the job and qualify for the Europa League.

He said: "The last seven games hold no fear for us. Rangers are 12 points ahead of us and we won't catch them but why not close that gap to eight or seven points?"

Stewart spoke as Hearts launched a ground-breaking partnership with Erskine, the charity that cares for more than 1000 ex-Service men and women.

From next season, Erskine will become the Tynecastle club's official charity partner and will work together to raise funds and public awareness of their work.

Hearts have a special relationship with the armed services after 11 players volunteered to fight in the First World War with McCrae's Sporting Battalion.

Four of them died on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on July 1, 1916.

Colonel Martin Wilson said: "Erskine is thrilled that Hearts have chosen to make us their official charity partner.

"This is a top football club uniquely steeped in military tradition."

CAPTION(S):

ATTENTION! Stewart joins ex-Service man Stephen Keeling to launch Hearts' link with the Erskine charity before hailing manager Csaba Laszlo, below