Nine of Hearts

CARETAKER boss John McGlynn today claimed that Hearts’ new manager will have to sign up to nine players before the start of next season.

The Tynecastle board is currently scouring Europe for a new head coach following John Robertson’s sacking.

With the likes of Phil Stamp, Kevin McKenna, Ramon Pereira, Patrick Kisnorbo, Tepi Moilanen and Neil Janczyk having all left the club, and Joe Hamill, Mark Burchill and Graham Weir pondering offers, the incoming chiefs will inherit a threadbare first-team squad.

With the Jambos reporting back for pre-season training in a month, bolstering the squad will be a priority with McGlynn stressing that quantity, as well as quality, is the key to Hearts being in a position to hit the ground running when the new season kicks off on July 30.

"The quicker we get somebody in the better as we need to stabilise the ship," he said. "It’s vital we have someone in place as soon as possible. A lot of players have left and we need quality players to bolster the squad. We have lost almost an entire team and are probably looking at needing nine new players to give us the necessary depth to the squad that we will need for the rigours of the SPL."

McGlynn and fellow coach Stevie Frail as well as Academy Director John Murray have been making moves to look at possible targets for next season, the interim boss insisting it was only "sensible" to scout around at the moment, despite the club being without a manager.

He said: "Discounting Graham Weir, Mark Burchill and Joe Hamill, who are all considering offers which have been made to them, we have 11 signed players at the moment and that includes Lee Wallace, who will be eligible for the Under-19s next season.

"While we hope he will play a number of games in the SPL next season it is a lot to ask of someone his age and the chances are he won’t play them all.

"We have our pre-season games starting on July 10 so there won’t be a lot of time for the new man one he is appointed, particularly when you consider the quantity of players which are required for next season.

"We have been looking at certain positions which we know need strengthened for next season and it is only sensible to do that in the circumstances.

"It is important to keep as many irons in the fire as possible and the club certainly hasn’t shut down in that respect.

"We have to keep looking and make recommendations to the board if we see anyone we think will be suitable to strengthen the squad. Strength in depth is what is required in the SPL and that is what the new manager will have to get here in due course."

Chief executive Phil Anderton is currently finalising a short list of candidates for the Gorgie hot seat following Robertson’s departure.

Motherwell manager Terry Butcher has been touted as possible contender in the wake of his success at Fir Park while the likes of George Burley and Yeovil Town boss Gary Johnson could also be in the frame.

While recognising the importance of appointing a new boss as soon as possible, the Hearts board of directors want to ensure they have the right man in place.

The club will also appoint a director of football as part of a restructured coaching set up at Tynecastle, although his appointment will be of secondary importance to the unearthing of the man they want to take the club forward in the Vladimir Romanov era.

Taken from the Scotsman