Hearts eye move for favourite son Robbo

MOIRA GORDON

HEARTS will make a move for their new manager within the next 48 hours.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle boss John Robertson remains the firm favourite to replace Craig Levein and, following a board meeting at Tynecastle yesterday, the club will now approach the Highlanders seeking permission to speak to the former Hearts striker.

The 40-year-old, who remains Hearts’ record goalscorer, was touted as the ideal replacement by Levein and the supporters seemed to echo the view, singing his name during yesterday’s 3-0 victory over Dundee at Tynecastle.

But chairman George Foulkes insisted there are others in the frame and no decision had been finalised. "Fellow directors and myself met earlier today and we have started the process of appointing a successor to Craig Levein. We’re considering a number of candidates and looking at their details, achievements and credentials."

However, there is no escaping the fact that Robertson is the No.1 target. Speaking after Inverness’s victory over Livingston, he refused to be drawn on the issue, saying simply that neither he nor the club had heard from Hearts. That will be remedied before Tuesday.

"John Robertson was put in the frame by Craig Levein so clearly he is in the frame and I don’t see any point in denying that," said Foulkes.

"If we are going to approach anyone who is currently in employment at any football club then we would make an approach in the proper manner through the club. We haven’t made an approach at present. Clearly, we only had the meeting just before the game today so it’s only now that we can start making any approaches."

He gave himself a 48-hour window but reiterated the need to move fast with so many crucial games looming.

However, captain Steven Pressley, while vouching for Robertson’s coaching credentials, said that making the right decision was a more pressing requirement than making a quick decision.

With Vladimir Romanov assuming his 30% shareholding in the club in December, whoever takes the job will be expected to work alongside Romanov’s preferred choice for director of football, Anatoly Byshovets.

Taken from the Scotsman