“Very good deal overall,” as Heart of Midlothian Two Star departs to become a part of Birmingham.

The head coach said he discussed “picking the right moment” for the full-back to leave Tynecastle with the player a year ago.

The 24-year-old Cochrane will now play for Birmingham City for an estimated £1.3 million plus add-ons. “Alex has done really well for us since joining three years ago, and we’ve been really good for Alex so it’s no surprise that there was interest in him,” stated Naismith.

For the benefit of the squad, it is critical that we find players who can advance the team and provide a substantial return on investment should the opportunity arise in the future.

Overall, it’s an excellent deal. Both Alex and the club benefit from it. He departs.