New signing Kevin Kyle has set his sights on netting silverware for Hearts next season - and challenging the Old Firm.

The striker penned a two-year deal last week and speaking to the media today at Tynecastle, the 29-year-old insisted the Edinburgh club has the quality to mount a serious league campaign under Jim Jefferies and Billy Brown.

"I am looking forward to my time here," he said. "Hearts is a big club with big expectations. We have got a big squad and a lot of good players and we should be doing better than last season when we finished sixth.

"Hearts were always the club which finished third behind Celtic and Rangers and I'd like to think that's where we can finish next season and see how close we can get to the Old Firm.

"Dundee United made a good job of it last season and hopefully we can be the team which does it next time. I want to be challenging for trophies as well and getting to a cup final would be a great day out for the fans.

"Jim and Billy did a great job at Kilmarnock so on a better budget with better players and better options you'd imagine they would do a lot better. I'm sure they will as they have a wealth of experience so hopefully they can get Hearts right back on track."

The former Kilmarnock front man signed on the dotted line last Thursday and he admitted he has never been happier.

"I've got a massive smile on face now and hopefully it stays there for the next two years!" he said.

"I came here last week to sign with my girlfriend and my wee boy and it was the happiest I have ever felt when I signed that form knowing my future was sorted for the next two years.

"It was such a great feeling - and if my family is happy off the park, and I'm happy off the park that relates to on the park and hopefully it goes well for me. It's an important move for me. Jim has put a lot of faith in me and I don't want to let him or the Hearts fans down.

"Jim and Billy will work in pre season on how they want to use me and I know they have other targets in mind. I know what they are after and if they can get what they are after then there's no reason why we can't do what's expected of us."

Kevin rejected a big-money move abroad as well as tempting offers from elsewhere in the SPL to link up again with JJ, as he explained to the assembled press.

"I was offered 250,000 euros net from a team in Russia and I have come to Hearts for way more less than Mark McGhee's been talking about in the papers so that shows I'm here to play football and enjoy it. Sometimes in life money's not everything, although I know some people will disagree with that.

"I had all the money years ago when I was at Sunderand and Coventry and wasted it all through gambling so I know money doesn't always make you happy.

"I am going to get paid well enough at Hearts. My family's happy here and why upset that for a couple of years for a few extra pounds?

"Hopefully I can be the proven striker the club has been crying out for. You look at guys like Templeton, Suso and Driver and some of the others and if they can get balls into the box then I'm quite confident of getting on the end of them.

"I'm so determined to work hard and although I've been signed for just a week, I've been at Riccarton for five days now working on things and making sure I'm right for the start of the season to get off to a good start."

On Hearts.TV today, exclusive interviews with new signings Kevin and Darren Barr.