Robert Snodgrass 'disappointed' by Hearts axe as Steven Naismith admits veteran's absence makes his job easier

Snodgrass is in talks to end his Hearts contract early and Naismith has revealed the midfielder's reaction to being told he won't play under him.

Robert Snodgrass is “disappointed” at being axed from the Hearts squad as interim boss Steven Naimsith admitted that the veteran’s absence made his life easier.

As exclusively revealed by Record Sport this week, Snodgrass is in talks with the Jambos over ending his contract at Tynecastle early. He signed until the end of the season last September, but has played his last game in maroon after being sent off during Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat to St Mirren before Robbie Neilson was sacked the following day.

Naismth has been placed in charge until the end of the campaign and his first match in the dugout is this weekend’s Edinburgh derby at Easter Road. Snodgrass would have been suspended anyway, but Naismith has told him he won’t be involved again ahead of his expected departure from Gorgie, but admitted it was a hard conversation to have with someone he knows well and gets on with.

“Snoddy is not going to be involved,” he said. “That part of it is ongoing. Obviously there’s a suspension there and I’ve had a chat with him and the decision has been made. If Snoddy’s not involved, for me personally, the job becomes harder if there’s always questions about Snoddy.

“All round, I felt it was best if he wasn’t around for that. For no other reason that it makes everything easier for me. Now on that, Snoddy was really disappointed and it's hard for me as someone who is his friend, has been his teammate and had a long lasting relationship with him, to have that conversation with him and see how disappointed he was. But Snoddy’s got really good attributes. He’s been a fantastic player from when I was his teammate and I've only got good things to say about him, but the decision was made.”

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