Mercer puts faith in Jordan.

JAMES TRAYNOR

21 Sep 1990

I'm now manager

here and I will

do it all my way

JOE Jordan, who had been reported to have left Bristol City's Ashton Gate home in a pretty emotional state, arrived at Tynecastle later in the day when it was revealed he had signed a three-year managerial contract believed to be worth £100,000 a year.

Although he takes over officially this morning he will leave Sandy Clark in charge of the team for tomorrow's game at Celtic Park.

It is the new man's intention to take time to study all aspects of the club and then make considered judgements.

Players and backroom staff might not be up to his standards and if others have to be brought in the club's chairman, Wallace Mercer, who suggested he will be stepping out of the front line, will back him all the way.

"I believe we have a good squad, but if the manager thinks he has to buy then so be it," Mercer said.

The chairman obviously was pleased to have secured Jordan's services and seemed genuinely willing to hand over to the former player, who was capped 52 times for Scotland.

Mercer, of course, will have enough on his mind in the months ahead when he must address the problem of raising finance for a new stadium, which he believes to be preferable to remaining in the Gorgie area.

He is convinced he has found the ideal working partner in Jordan and one of the first people to phone Mercer and congratulate him on a good choice was Alex MacDonald, the Hearts manager who was sacked last week.

Looking as fit and healthy as ever Jordan did when striking terror into the hearts of defenders as a player with Manchester United, Leeds, AC Milan, Verona, Southampton, and, of course, Scotland, he was wheeled in front of a packed media audience in Mercer's boardroom domain.

The big fellow, whose PR skills were demonstrated fully when he acted as a translator for Andy Roxburgh during the World Cup finals in Italy, took everything in his stride.

This self-belief was one of the qualities which attracted Mercer, who saw Jordan in action in Italy, in the first place and if the new manager is as assured in his football dealings the trophies which have eluded Hearts soon could sit gleaming in the Tynecastle display cabinet.

Jordan, at 38, has limited managerial experience, but he has worked with some of the best in the business -- Revie, Stein, and Hal Stewart, who introduced him to the big game when he gave him his chance at Morton, were among those mentioned -- and he claims to have picked something up from all of them.

He is regarded as one of the game's finest young leaders of footballing men, and during his three years with Bristol City he brought all that he had gleaned from the masters into play.

He took the English club into the second division at the end of last season and their elevation was earned playing a brand of entertaining football.

"I used two wingers there and crowds began to increase," he said.

"However, I can't say what way I'll want the team to play here at Tynecastle because I'll meet them for the first time tomorrow.

I have to take time and allow ever player ample opportunity to show what he can do.

Nothing will be done in haste.

There will be no rash decisions, but I'm now the manager here and I will do it all my way."

He has already accepted that Clark, who has achieved two splendid results in his week as caretaker manager, should at the very least be allowed to see out his contract, which has another two years to run.

If, however, Jordan believes Clark to be the right man they could continue shaping Hearts' future together.

On the other hand, Jordan might wish to surround himself with people he has known for some time and consideration might be given to Jimmy Lumsden, the former Celtic coach, who was his assistant at Ashton Gate.

Mercer revealed that he had spoken to something like 20 people seeking the benefit of their experience before making his move to replace MacDonald.

"I would like to thank people like Kenny Dalglish, Alex Ferguson, and Jock Wallace for their advice," he said.

"One name, Jordan, came up on numerous occasions."

Jordan was head-hunted by Aston Villa earlier in the summer, but for various reasons he did not move on.

"There were a few offers at that time, but it was a question of timing ," he said.

"Around that time I had to ask myself questions: where I wanted to go? What I wanted to do?

"I am here because I am ambitious and I think these ambitions can be fulfilled at Tynecastle, although I am under no illusions.

"I was in Glasgow a couple of weeks ago and watched Celtic's game against Aberdeen.

I saw a high standard of football and a very well organised Aberdeen team, so I know it will be difficult."

Inevitably, perhaps, he will be compared to Graeme Souness because their careers ran parallel for a spell, but Jordan, understandably, would not be drawn on that tack.

"I think Graeme has done exceptionally well not only for Rangers, but also for Scottish football," he said.

"However, I'm here to manage Hearts and that is the priority."

Mercer said Jordan has been given all responsibility, selection, buying, and selling, for team matters.

"I have put into his hands the thing closest to my heart," the chairman said.

The choice of Jordan is bound to placate the Tynecastle fans, many of whom did not welcome the removal of MacDonald, and there were around 50 of them standing in the rain outside the ground yesterday and anxious to catch a glimpse of the new leader.

Jordan obliged and stepped outside to chat and sign autographs.

Already, he seems to be fitting in perfectly.

Taken from the Herald