Hearts are actively considering up to eight candidates to succeed Steven Naismith as head coach, with one interview already conducted, according to chief executive Andrew McKinlay. Naismith was dismissed following a disappointing 2-1 loss to St Mirren, marking the team’s eighth consecutive defeat across all competitions. Liam Fox has stepped in as interim manager, overseeing a recent draw against Ross County and set to lead the team in their upcoming Conference League opener against Dinamo Minsk in Azerbaijan.
“We now have a long shortlist of around seven or eight people,” McKinlay stated in an interview with BBC Scotland. “The reason I mention seven or eight is that some candidates may drop out or not meet our criteria, leading us to consider others.”
The club is determined to find a suitable replacement quickly, as they look to turn around their recent fortunes on the pitch. As the search continues, the interim management of Fox will remain crucial for maintaining stability during this transition period.
“What you want to avoid is ending up with no candidates at all. We have a list ready to discuss. Yesterday, [sporting director] Graeme Jones and I conducted our first interview with a candidate.
“I’m hopeful that we can complete the remaining interviews over the weekend and into next week.”
Chief executive Andrew McKinlay plans to present a shortlist of up to three managerial candidates to the Hearts board, expressing a desire for a coach who may bring a fresh perspective to the club. This search is part of Hearts’ ongoing efforts to find their fifth head coach or manager in the last five years, a process they are approaching with the aid of an analytics company.
“I prefer not to discuss specific managers,” McKinlay stated, emphasizing his respect for those who have previously held the role. “However, we have chosen to adopt a strategy that incorporates analytics in our decision-making process.”
He also mentioned that he is not aware of any of the names that have been speculated in the media. “I don’t want to impose a timeline on this process,” he added, highlighting the importance of a thorough search to find the right candidate.
This approach reflects Hearts’ commitment to making a well-informed decision that could help stabilize the club after a challenging period marked by coaching changes.
