It’s been just under five months since Joe Savage stepped away from Hearts but he’s already got an itch to scratch.
Savage has been working as a consultant since leaving his post as sporting director at Tynecastle in July. And he said: “I needed to refresh and recharge my batteries. But I’ve got fire in the belly and I’m ready to go again and find the right club and the right project.”
Hearts and Savage was certainly the right club, the right project and at the right time. The Jambos finished the Premiership in third, fourth and third place in successive seasons following promotion back to the top-tier. It would be churlish to say Savage’s summer exit after three-and-a-half years as sporting director has coincided with Hearts’ nightmare season.
But there’s little doubt there is a lot of work required to make sure the progress made at Tynecastle in recent years does not go to waste. Savage said: “I’m proud of the job we all did. We made history in the fact that we qualified for Europe in three successive seasons via our league position.
“The only thing missing was a trophy. That’s one that still irks me as it got away. We reached the Scottish Cup Final but had five of the starting line-up carrying injuries. On another day we’d have won that game instead of losing in extra-time against Rangers. The women’s side also lost the final to Rangers as did the Under-18s. We were so close to silverware and that’s the least the fans deserved.
“I felt by the end I had given everything I could give. But I wanted to make sure I left the club in a better state when I joined – and I did. There’s no doubt about that.”
In an all-encompassing position, Savage was responsible for overseeing first-team matters, the B and womens’ teams, recruitment and the academy. It took its toll and he called time on his stay at Hearts on May 21, just a day before his 40th birthday.
Savage said: “I love football and I love the job. But when I told Andrew McKinlay (chief executive) I knew it was the correct decision as I was really comfortable doing it. It felt like the right time for me to move on and them to choose whatever path they needed to go down.
“Working in football is the best job in the world but it’s also very demanding. I was the first port of call for everything – I was dealing with aspects at the training ground, contracts for players and staff and negotiations with all arrivals and departures. Then there was the women’s team and making sure the academy was up to speed. I had to deal with all of that 24/7.”
That job spec has changed somewhat for Graeme Jones, who succeeded Savage in Gorgie. Instead it was also down to Tony Bloom’s analytics firms that influenced the club’s thinking in turning to Neil Critchley to replace Steven Naismith in September.
Following the £10million investment deal, Hearts are also using Jamestown Analytics to oversee their recruitment search ahead of next month’s transfer window. So what does Savage make of the technology and data-driven method rather than the traditional eyes and ears route?
He said: “I would have embraced it as it’s clearly shown to have worked with Brighton over the years and Ipswich as well last season.
“Any help you can get in the recruitment sense is beneficial and worthwhile. I didn’t know about the algorithms coming in. People ask me would it have changed my mind. But it probably wouldn’t have. Hearing what the guys are saying, it sounds brilliant and it does take a lot of pressure off you as a sporting director that you have this model to help identify players.”
For now, Savage is preparing to celebrate Christmas at home with his young family, feeling rejuvenated before embarking on his next challenge. Moving abroad appeals while a return to English football, following spells south of the border with Norwich and Preston, is also high up in his thoughts.
Savage has had offers but they’ve not been the right fit. That means there are no immediate thoughts of a busy festive calendar, January transfer window or dealing with off-the-field issues.
Savage added: “It’s great I can give my all to my family. I felt I was becoming someone I didn’t want to become as it’s a job that is so all-consuming. I now want to go to a club that I can help build and that has a real structure and identity in place.
“I feel my record stacks up against most. I’ve completed the Level 5 for Technical Directors course with the English FA and I’ve been pretty successful. I’ve worked in the Premier League, the Championship and the Scottish Premiership. And I’ve learned a hell of a lot along the way.”