ROBBIE Neilson has stated that Hearts won’t squander their £3m European windfall in the summer transfer window in a bid to challenge Celtic and Rangers at the top of the cinch Premiership.

The Tynecastle club ensured they will have group stage continental football next season when they defeated their Edinburgh rivals Hibernian 2-1 in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden on Saturday.

Craig Gordon and his team mates have finished third in their first season back in the top flight and now have a chance to cap an excellent campaign when they play Rangers in the final on May 21.

Neilson knows that having guaranteed income from either the Europa League or the Conference League until at least Christmas will enable him to strengthen his squad considerably during the close season.

However, the former Scotland internationalist has stressed that Hearts will spend their money carefully and look to consolidate their position in the league and secure European qualification again next term.  

“We want to try and challenge at the top end of the table,” he said. “But Rangers and Celtic have a budget which is ten times that of ours. We know it will be a gradual build up and it won’t be done in one window.

“If we add a bit to the budget we can get two, three or four players who are a level above and that takes us consistently into Europe. We aren’t going to chuck every single penny at it, we will take our time.

“We are beginning to get the right players in. We have a way we want to play and we have guys behind us who can get the right people in. We will have good windows and not so good ones, but it’s about trying to limit them. This summer we want to have a good one to cement third place.

“Everyone starts at zero next season so we have to prepare and recruit properly in the summer. Then it’s about winning games which is easier said than done. We have to do things properly and gradually and hopefully take the club as far as we can.”

Neilson added: “I think being in Europe will help us attract players. A lot of it comes down to finances, but it also comes down to when you are talking to them you tell them they will have European football until Christmas at least.

“We have got to the Scottish Cup final and we want to do it again next season and winning trophies appeals to players. We have a great stadium, training ground and great city to live in with a big fanbase so it ticks loads of boxes, so it is now about finding the right players.

“We will sit down with Ann (chairwoman Budge), Andrew (chief executive McKinlay) and Joe Savage (sporting director) and say: ‘This is where we want to be in a year’s time’. We have to try and bring everything together.”

Hearts fans called for Neilson to be sacked last season when the Tynecastle club were beaten by Highland League club Brora Rangers in the Scottish Cup even though his side was out in front in the Championship and on course for promotion.

He has been grateful for the unstinting backing which he has received from the hierarchy at the Gorgie outfit since returning for a second stint in the dugout last summer and is hoping he can repay them for their loyalty with Scottish Cup glory.

“That’s football at a big club and football nowadays,” he said. “If you lose a game it is the end of the world, but if you win you are the best thing since sliced bread. I know if we had lost to Hibs then it would have been a different story. We have to look at the here and now, win games and then assess things.

“This is an unbelievable club and very few anywhere that have real stability like we do. We have a board and directors that are strong and that see the long-term plan rather than winning and losing weekly.

“We have a vision and we know where we want to get to. There will be ups and downs along the way and we know that. Last season, we were a long way ahead before losing a few games, but the main objective was to get out of the Championship and we did that.

“This season it was about finishing in the top six and we met that. We have exceeded that and next year it will be ‘can we progress again?’.  It will be difficult to do that but that will be the aim.”

Neilson added: “I’m delighted for Ann as she saved the club. The club was in administration and nearly gone but she build us back up. We had some issues on the park, we got relegated and we came back up, now can we stay and get the club cemented in the top end of the Premiership.

“It would be great to win the Scottish Cup for Ann, but for everyone connected with Hearts. It’s been a long journey. We have nearly been there a few times, but hopefully this time we can get over the line.”