Daniel Baur reveals how Hearts ended his 12-year stay and why he wants a trade if full-time contract hopes fail

Daniel Baur was told his Hearts career was over 12 months ago. A quiet conversation with youth coaches Andy Kirk and John Rankin last summer informed the young defender that he was surplus to requirements after 12 years at Riccarton. All parties agreed he could see out the remaining year of his contract.

Now he faces the unprecedented challenge of seeking a new club amid the worst global health and financial crisis for decades. Dunfermline released 17 players yesterday, more clubs across Scotland will follow suit, so the 21-year-old Baur has a daunting task trying to stay in the game.

A Hearts fan and season-ticket holder as a kid, he has been with the club since the age of nine, signing professionally at 16. For the majority of his life, he has gone in and out of Riccarton every day with the hope of becoming a first-team regular.

Two senior appearances in maroon are his undoubted highlight, plus Scotland youth caps and a shedload of youth academy memories. They won’t earn him any money in future, though. Baur is now contemplating working as a tradesman if he can’t earn a full-time contract.

“It’s quite weird. I’ve never really applied for a job because I left school at 16 to sign for Hearts. This is a bit different,” he told the Evening News. “I’ve been looking at trades, plumbing and heating, stuff like that. I think I would enjoy a trade of some sort.

“I’ve been looking at these jobs because I’m out of contract in a couple of weeks and I need to be getting paid. If a full-time team didn’t come up, I’m happy to play part-time. As long as I’m playing football somewhere, that’s all I really care about. Being involved in a changing room again is what I’m really looking forward to.”

At 6ft 6ins tall, Baur may find it challenging crouching in a cupboard to repair a boiler. He is naturally more used to aerial duels with strikers or using his long legs for a sprint up the wing. Loan spells at Albion Rovers and Bonnyrigg Rose gave him extra first-team experience which he hopes to put to good use.

“I probably prefer playing centre-half because I’ve played there most of the time. I do enjoy left-back as well because I can get forward more, which I’m quite good at and I’m quite quick,” he said.

“I just sort of got plonked in central defence when I was about nine. I think I was about six foot even then. I’ve always been tall so that’s an advantage. I get comments about it nearly every day.”

At the same age, he chose to sign for Hearts as a local Edinburgh boy. “I was training with Rangers and Hearts at the same time, but Hearts was right on my doorstep so it was ideal. I really enjoyed my time there and made a lot of good pals through the years,” he explained.

“We won the Foyle Cup, the East of Scotland Shield, and we usually always beat Hibs at our age-group. Even though we were only young, it was good to get that habit into your system early.

“My first-team games are the highlight. I was over the moon when I found out I was making my debut against Kilmarnock at Murrayfield. It was really unexpected. To be there for so many years and then finally play in the first team was a brilliant feeling.

“I found out I would be leaving last summer even though I had a year left on my contract. Andy Kirk and John Rankin told me and it helped me finding out then instead of now. I was really upset at the time because it came as a surprise. It’s horrible to hear you’re being released.

“Those two were great with me and said they would do everything to help me. They still kept me involved in training and reserve games. I had a great year at Bonnyrigg and that has brought me on leaps and bounds.”

He is now out in the big bad world at a time when people are scrambling for work both in and out of football. As always, Baur is ready to compete and show what he is made of.

“All I’ve really known is Hearts since I was a wee kid. It is a bit of a shock but that’s part of growing up and part of football, really. It’s hard times just now and so many players are going to be looking for a club,” he acknowledged.

“Hopefully, with everything going on, teams might take a chance on younger lads. I’m ready to prove myself and show what I can do. I’ve had a few phonecalls from a few teams but I’m just keeping my options open just now. I don’t want to rush into something right away when other things might come up.

“Nobody knows when they will be back training or playing, so it’s hard. I don’t want to wait too long and leave myself without a club.”

Bonnyrigg may become an option but it goes without saying he would prefer full-time football if possible. “I’ve got a good relationship with Robbie Horn [Bonnyrigg manager] and it’s a good club with a great group of boys. That could be an option, I just need to wait and see how things pan out.”

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