Ian Black thanks past managers at Hearts as he seeks a new club

Free agent Ian Black has thanked his last two Hearts managers for sticking by him after a man of the match performance in the Scottish Cup final.

Black has left Tynecastle with a winner’s medal after three years at his boyhood club and believes the encouragement of Jim Jefferies and Paulo Sergio has pushed him on to greater heights in his time in Gorgie.

The former Inverness player said: “It’s just a fresh start for me, I’ve enjoyed every minute at Hearts. The people have been great – the club, the fans and especially the managers I’ve worked under and I thank them.

“There’s two managers I have to thank, Jim Jefferies and Paulo Sergio. They absolutely great with me, with all the problem I went through they stood by me and pushed me on.

“They encouraged me all the way through and I want to thank them.

“There’s new challenges coming to me and I’m going to grab them with both hands.”

A press report linked Black with Rangers this week but the playmaker played down suggestions he had been in contact with the troubled Ibrox club.

Ally McCoist’s side are currently under a year-long registration embargo for players over 18.

But Black said he would not rule out talking to the Glasgow giants if they could overturn the ban, which was imposed after the club was found guilty of breaching a number of SFA rules relating to their financial problems.

He said: “As far as I know it’s just paper talk, I’ve certainly not spoke to anyone or heard anything. It’s great that stuff like that is coming out though as it makes me look good.

“If they come in I’ll sit and listen to their plans. If I felt it was right for me then I wouldn’t rule anything out.

“With me being unemployed now I have to take any opportunity that comes towards me.”

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