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LASZLO SETS UEFA GOAL
Laszlo - wants European football.
New Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo has set UEFA Cup qualification as his team's target for the coming season.
The Tynecastle club finished eighth in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League last term after failing to make the top six for the first time since the introduction of a split in 2001.
That poor finish brought about a managerial shake-up in Gorgie, with caretaker head coach Stevie Frail being removed and Laszlo being drafted in following Mark McGhee's decision to remain at Motherwell.
Laszlo has only been at the helm for three weeks and has suffered a series of indifferent pre-season results on his squad's tour of Germany.
However, he is already convinced that the Edinburgh side can compete with likely rivals Dundee United, Aberdeen and Motherwell - their opening-day opponents on August 9 - for third and fourth place this season.
Speaking ahead of Sunday's pre-season friendly against English Premier League newcomers Hull, he said: "At the moment everything is okay. At the moment I don't have any problem and if we win the first game in the league everybody will be happy. We have a lot of work and a target to be better.
"I think the squad is good enough to get into the UEFA Cup and that is the most important thing for us.
"If we move up from eighth place last season that would be okay.
"We have to be realistic and the most important thing is to get better and move up from eighth.
"It is important to have a target and at the moment in Scotland you have five teams - Dundee United, Aberdeen, Motherwell, Hearts and one surprise team - with the same potential.
"Maybe from this five teams, two will come in the the UEFA Cup places."
Laszlo has not yet made any new signings but has targeted a new striker and goalkeeper as priorities for his squad before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.
He refused to shed any light on stories linking the club with Celtic striker Derek Riordan or those suggesting defender Christos Karipidis could return to Greece.
However, despite wanting to assess his squad thoroughly before making any drastic changes, the former Uganda and Ferencvaros manager insisted he would only accept those willing to work hard for the club.
He added: "The players enjoy their work and that is the most important thing.
"Every day I'm here at eight o'clock and at nine o'clock at night I go home to sleep. Everybody must follow me. The players are responding to that."
