Alex Cochrane has revealed how Davie Weir helped pave the way for a permanent transfer to Hearts, writes our main Ross Pilcher in Spain.
The former Brighton man has returned to Tynecastle on a three-year deal after spending last season on loan in Gorgie. Hearts hero Weir was responsible for overseeing the south coast club’s loans last summer when Cochrane became Robbie Neilson ’s first addition of the transfer window. He’s since been promoted to technical director following Dan Ashworth’s departure to newly-minted Newcastle.
Cochrane was obligated to sign a one-year extension with the Seagulls, but Weir reassured him that they wouldn’t stand in his way should an offer come in. The Jambos showed their commitment by stumping up a fee in order to land the 22-year-old, and he is grateful to Weir for his help and guidance in first of all getting him to Hearts in the first place, then allowing him to come back for a second, longer-term stint.
"I spoke to Brighton at the back end of the season,” said Cochrane. “There was a contract I had to sign, but I spoke to David Weir and he said if the right move comes along, I could leave. I'm thankful for what they've done for me over the last couple of years and I wish them all the best.
“It definitely made it a lot easier, knowing the city and knowing the league. Maybe if I didn't have the loan and that experience, I could have potentially gone elsewhere. But last year was great and I'm happy to be back here.
"Last season. David Weir steered me towards Hearts. He told me what the football would be like, what the club was like and that made my mind up to come here last season. After being here for a season, I knew what it was all about.
"He just wished me all the best and asked me for my opinion on what I wanted and what my preferences were. He's helped me a lot."
It looked as if Cochrane was set to stay in England with English Championship clubs circling, but his heart was set on coming back to the capital after Neilson made his intentions clear last season. "I always knew Hearts were interested,” Cochrane explained. “I had a conversation with the gaffer at the tail end of last season and he said the club wanted to sign me. I had a bit of time to myself on holiday, came back and more or less straight away, talks were happening and an offer got put in.
"For me it was a quick decision. It was a no-brainer to come back here and build on what we did last season. We're in Europe as well, which is going to be a hard test but a great experience against teams capable of doing great things. It was an opportunity I couldn't turn down.
“There were a few [clubs interested], yeah. It was just interest and although conversations happened, it was nothing too full on.”
It’s only actually been just over a month since Cochrane last featured in maroon, starting the Scottish Cup final defeat to Rangers. He feels like he’s never actually left, but that didn’t mean he could duck the dreaded signing initiation. Technically, he’s a new signing so up on the chair he got to belt out a tune.
“I said to the boys that it's been a couple of weeks and we're back together again,” Cochrane said. But it's good to see them, it's a good group of lads we've got.
"I can’t believe they made me do an initiation but I had to get that done. It was a terrible 30 seconds! I sang Three Little Birds by Bob Marley. I was dreadful! I was getting stick, it was awful. But it’s just team building at the end of the day. All good fun."
Cochrane also came under fire for the Love Island-theme signing announcement the jambos’ media team dreamed up, but admitted that being an avid viewer, he was well up for it. He added: "I was a fan of it! A few of the boys gave me stick, saying that it's dreadful. But I watch Love Island so I was happy to be a part of it and go along with it."
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