Hearts have announced that captain Danny Wilson is to leave the club at the end of this season. The 23 year old former Rangers and Liverpool player joined Hearts on loan from the Anfield club at the beginning of 2013 before signing a three year contract in the summer of that year. However, a clause in that contract stated Wilson could leave Tynecastle after two years and this is something the defender has decided to do.
Hearts Head Coach Robbie Neilson praised Wilson’s contribution to Hearts. He told the club’s official website:
“Danny’s decided he wants a new challenge and, as I’ve said previously, I’ll never stand in the way of any player who wants to move on so he goes with our blessing and our thanks.
“He’s been an outstanding servant to this club and has played a vital part in its revival this season.
“Danny’s probably seen it all in the two and a half years that he’s been here, and probably had good cause to leave sooner if he had wished to do so.
“He took a pay cut during the bad times and was instrumental in helping to keep spirits up when things looked bleak; buying season tickets and donating them to club charity Big Hearts, and donating several raffle prizes for club events and then buying them back.
“He had options to go at the start of this season but he stayed because he wanted to see the job through and get us back to the top flight so for that I can’t thank him enough.
“We’ll miss him on and off the park and he’s been a great captain but that’s football; players join and players leave and we’re no different here at Hearts.
“We’ll continue to work hard to assemble a squad that can challenge for a top-half spot in the Premiership.”
Wilson has been linked with a move to Celtic as well as a return to English football. He was sold by Rangers to Liverpool for £2m in 2010 after one just season in the Ibrox side’s first team but failed to make an impact at Anfield, making only nine first team appearances for the Reds.
He has made 32 appearances for Hearts this season, scoring five goals, as he captained the Maroons to the SPFL Championship title.
Wilson will miss Hearts trip to Cowdenbeath next Saturday because of suspension.
Author of The Team for Me - 50 Years of Following Hearts. Runs Mind Generating Success, a successful therapy practice in Edinburgh. Contact me if you want rid of any unwanted habits. Twitter @Mike1874
