​Hearts should keep their sights firmly on staying in the Scottish Premiership’s top three, former Tynecastle defender Ryan McGowan says. The Edinburgh club came within 90 minutes of lifting the title last season but ultimately fell to Celtic at Parkhead on the final day, finishing as runners-up behind the champions. Despite that near-miss, Hearts still sat eight points ahead of Rangers, who had finished as runners-up in the previous four campaigns.
“I’ve always believed Hearts should concentrate on moving away from the fight for fourth, fifth, and sixth place for a number of years,” Livingston-born McGowan told the BBC’s Scottish Football Podcast. “Then establish, secure the money in the bank, and lock in the perks that come with qualifying for European competition, so you can grow and solidify your presence there.”
His point is to create a stable platform that narrows the gap to the two Glasgow giants while also widening the margin between Hearts and the rest of the pack. That, he argues, would be a crucial focus for the club and its supporters this season.
Finishing second marked Hearts’ best league finish in two decades, and they now enter the Champions League at the second qualifying round, set to host Austria’s Sturm Graz over two legs. “They were so close to winning the league last year and will be bitterly disappointed,” McGowan noted. “If you can pull further away from the teams around you, you’ll widen the gap and open opportunities for progress.”
The former Hearts defender emphasized that a bigger gap could enable the club to attract and secure new players while continuing their ascent toward the elite tier of Scottish football. He drew a vision that resonates with long-term strategy: move beyond just competing with rivals and begin consistently challenging Celtic and Rangers for domestic dominance, echoing the ambitions shared by investors who believe Hearts can dream bigger in the coming decade.
As the club navigates European competition and domestic duties, the focus remains clear: strengthen the squad, stabilize finances, and push for a sustained top-three finish each season. McGowan’s assessment reflects a philosophy of incremental steps that build a foundation for future success, with the ultimate goal of lifting the title within the next ten years while maintaining a competitive edge in Europe. Hearts are poised to be on a positive trajectory, and supporters will be hoping the strategy translates into tangible progress on the pitch as the new season unfolds.