Hearts have been drawn against Kilmarnock’s conquerers Copenhagen and Cercle Brugge in the Europa Conference League – and will also face Bundesliga side Heidenheim, Omonoia Nicosia, Petrocub from Moldova and Belarussians Dinamo Minsk.
Steven Naismith’s side dropped into UEFA’s third tier tournament after crashing out of the Europa League last night. A 1-0 Tynecastle defeat to Czechs Viktoria Plzen saw the Jam Tarts lose 2-0 on aggregate and stretch their early season woes to five losses and a draw from six games.
The safety net of the Conference League offers a £5m reprieve though and the Jam Tarts can look forward to a trip to top seeds Copenhagen, who finished third in the Danish Super Liga last season and who dumped Derek McInnes’ side out in the play-off after drawing 1-1 at Rugby Park on Thursday night to secure a 3-1 aggregate victory.
Away ties with Belgians Cercle Brugge – who dumped Killie out the Europa League qualifiers – and Belarussians Dinamo Minsk also lie in wait while Bundesliga side FC Heidenheim, Omonoia and Petrocub will all travel to Gorgie to complete the six ties.
Hearts will be looking to finish in the top 24 of the 36-team league phase format. The top eight qualify directly for the last 16 while the clubs sitting ninth to 24th will contest a play-off to join them in the knockout stage.
The Jambos finished third in their group on their last venture into the Conference League. Victories home and away to Lithuanian side RFS secured six points but the might of Serie A Fiorentina and Turks Istanbul Basaksehir proved too much in Gorgie and on the road.
However, Plzen’s venture to the last eight of last season’s competition has offered a glimpse of what can be achieved. Naismith said after Thursday’s defeat: “There’s a positive that we’re in Europe until Christmas. In terms of the level and wins, the new set up of every European competition is trying to balance that out to an extent.
“We are going into the Conference League, it’s still a success for the club but short-term we need to start being be more of a threat at the top end of the pitch.”