Ryan Stevenson believes Gary Locke deserves a new Heart of Midlothian contract.
The Jambos have two more Scottish Premiership fixtures to play this season before they begin their preparations for the Championship campaign in 2014/15.
The Edinburgh club would be sitting eighth on the table if they had not been hit with a 15-point deduction for falling into administration before the campaign which has prompted midfield ace Stevenson to speak highly of manager Locke.
"For me it is a no brainer," he said on Monday.
"Regardless of what I think of him [Locke] personally, as a coach and a manager he has done wonders this year. Bringing on the young boys has been a test in itself.
"He has had to be hard on them at the right times and he has had to put an arm round them at the right times. He and Billy [Brown] have done that brilliantly this year.
"Once the new owner comes in it would be great to see him make his own signings and put his own stamp on the team. And hopefully we can push on next year and come straight back up."
