CSABA Laszlo's primary objective remains to turn Hearts into a competitive force in the Scottish Premier League, but, refreshingly for the Tynecastle support, the recently-installed manager has also made it his duty to start building bridges with a disenchanted public.
Aside from the long-running managerial issues which riled fans before the Hungarian's appointment last week, arguably the main gripe against majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov's controversial running of the club was the lack of communication wit
h the paying customers, as the likes of former coach Stevie Frail and even the club's translator were wheeled out to face the media and explain decisions they had little or nothing to do with.
In short, minimal co-operation had become the norm. However, Laszlo, has already recognised that his new club have become too distant from fans and media, and the former Ferencvaros and Uganda manager has resolved to ensure that such an evasive approach is not allowed to continue under his rule.
"The most important thing is to work together, which is maybe a new idea at this club," he said.
"In the last year or so the fans have been suffering, but now we must change direction. We want to bring everybody back to Hearts, we want to bring the fans back, we want to bring the media back.
"We want to show everybody we are a serious club, we are a good club. We are open and we want to show the fans that we are here for them.
"We have a responsibility to the fans to give something back. Sometimes I talk too much... but this is my job."
Indeed, first impressions of Laszlo suggest that such an amiable and charismatic man would be tormented if he were ever forced to keep his thoughts to himself.
Following an engaging press conference last Friday which did plenty to win over those in attendance, the 44-year-old then willingly gave up over half-an-hour of his time to carry out various media commitments in the wake of a disappointing, but enlightening, 1-0 defeat against Dunfermline at East End Park in his second pre-season friendly in charge on Wednesday night.
For most clubs on these shores, such an approach is considered obligatory, but given Hearts' recent history, Laszlo's obvious penchant for communication represents another tentative step on his new club's long road to redemption in the eyes of its followers.
The full article contains 413 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
