Clevid Dikamona makes Hearts return plea as French defender admits he's willing to play in the Championship

The 29-year-old ripped up his contract during the coronavirus crisis but has always said he wanted to return.

Clevid Dikamona tore up his Hearts contract in the Jambos’ hour of need.

But the French defender is adamant he never wanted to rip apart his Tynecastle career for any longer than football remained in the grip of the coronavirus crisis.

Dikamona still has his heart set on a return to Gorgie when the game finally gets back on its feet.

And he insists it doesn’t matter what division they find themselves in when that happens – he just wants the chance to play a part in dragging Hearts back towards the top.

Dikamona was the first, indeed the only, Hearts player to end their contract when Ann Budge took a scythe to first-team wages in response to the Covid crisis shutdown on March 18.

The 29-year-old chose to move his family back to France to shelter from the pandemic.

Since then the Jambos have been relegated from the top flight without having played a minute more thanks to the Premiership season ending eight games early.

Dikamona can’t understand why the SPFL chose to demote the club.

But the Congo international has no doubt Hearts will be back as a Premiership side within a year if Budge’s last-gasp reconstruction plan doesn’t win the backing it requires.

Speaking to Record Sport from his home in Normandy, Dikamona said: “I would love to return to Hearts. I’ve got unfinished business there.

“They are the best club I have played for and I know I can give more than I’ve shown in the last two years.

“For now it’s not up to me. It’s up to Ann and the manager to propose a deal. Since I left the club I’ve had no contact from Hearts but they have more important things to deal with just now.

“When I chose to end my contract three months early I was simply agreeing to help the club by adhering to the requests of the owner.

“It allowed me to return to France with my family in good health and to wait for the virus to pass. I always said I wanted to return to Hearts. But that is up to the club.

“Would I be happy to play in the Championship? Yes, of course.

“I know that Hearts will come back to the top division for sure. If I had to spend a year in the second tier then it’s no problem.

“In my career I have always played in the second tier – sometimes third – with clubs like Le Havre, Caen and in England with Dagenham.

“But everyone knows Hearts are a huge club and with the fans behind them it would not be a problem.

“Edinburgh is a lovely city and Hearts are a magnificent club with fans that I love. It would not be a problem at all for me to come back. But you need a contract between two parties.”