Former Hearts manager Steven Naismith conducted the draw for the Fourth Round of the Scottish Gas Men’s Scottish Cup at K-Park last night live on BBC Scotland.
And he selected non-league opposition for both Edinburgh sides.
Hibs have a home tie against West of Scotland League side Clydebank and Naismith’s former employees face an away fixture against Highland League side Brechin City.
Musselburgh Athletic – who have reached the Fourth Round for the first time – will travel to face Championship side Hamilton Academical.
The ties will take place on the weekend of Saturday, 18 January 2025. The television selections will be confirmed in due course.
Speaking after the draw, Naismith reflected on the stand-out ties. He said: “In general the draw was a good mix of everything. Some of the smaller sides got good ties and I think there’s nothing worse as a smaller team than getting a tie not as glamorous.
“Naismith was a late substitute as Rangers defeated Falkirk in the 2009 Scottish Cup Final and the forward also scored his first ever senior goal as an 18-year-old in a 2-2 draw between Kilmarnock and Hearts in the Scottish Cup in 2005. He added: “The Scottish Cup was one of the first trophies I won in my career. It was a brilliant feeling when we won it. It’s an old cliche but it’s so true that they are the things that stay with you in football. Those memories of good occasions where you’re part of a successful team.
“I also scored my first professional goal in a Scottish Cup game at Tynecastle as well for Kilmarnock, which is something I look back on fondly. I just remember getting the last 15 minutes. We were getting beat and the manager decided to change things and I came on. It was just one of those moments where it seemed to happen in slow motion.
“As the ball got knocked down by Kris Boyd, I managed to take a nice touch and I put it into the roof of the net for the equaliser. For my first goal I’m obviously delighted with that milestone but also to keep the team’s cup chances alive was brilliant although we sadly lost in the replay.”
Naismith led Hearts to third last season in his first season in charge but was relieved of his duties in September after a poor start to the season. Reflecting on his time at Hearts and his time out of the game, he said: “I think in my first full year as a manager, I was at a club with a really high demand. The biggest takeaway I have is that a lot of it worked and we were successful but what comes with success is the need to stay at that level – especially with a club the size of Hearts.
“Contending in Europe and then not starting the season well, there was always going to be pressure mounting. I’m the sort of person who – regardless of where I am – always looks to improve and there are things I’ve learned. You want to be in Europe and you want to challenge yourself but unfortunately we just fell short and the change was made.
“I’ve enjoyed the time off. I’ve been very productive with it. Even when I took the job at Hearts, I took the job because I felt I could take the club somewhere and I could see a potential progression.
“You’re not just looking to survive and that’s important for me. In anything I’m doing, I want to enjoy it and the enioyment comes from an end-game of potential success.
“In terms of getting back in, it’s got to be the right situation and the right job but I’m not going to force my way back into the game by making the wrong choice.
“I don’t have any qualms about the level I go back in at. It’s more about what the project is and where the club wants to go. I’m not interested in somewhere where you’re surviving week to week and hoping to get a purple patch.
“I want to go somewhere where I can help bring a club to somewhere it’s not been or back to where a club has been previously. I’m very relaxed about the future and we will see what it may bring.”
Scottish Gas Men’s Scottish Cup Fourth Round Draw
Brechin City v Hearts
Broxburn Athletic v Ayr United
Celtic v Kilmarnock
Cove Rangers v Forfar Athletic
Dumbarton v Airdrieonians
Dundee v Dundee United
Dunfermline Athletic v Stenhousemuir
Elgin City v Aberdeen
Falkirk v Raith Rovers
Hamilton Academical v Musselburgh Athletic
Hibernian v Clydebank
Queen of the South v St Mirren
Queen’s Park v Montrose
Rangers v Fraserburgh
Ross County v Livingston
St Johnstone v Motherwell
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
