Hearts close in

HEARTS chief executive Phil Anderton today insisted the club is making "encouraging" progress in the search for a new manager - and revealed the interview process could start as early as next week.

The Gorgie outfit is currently compiling a lengthy list of possible successors to John Robertson, who left the club earlier this month.

High-profile candidates are thought to include former Scotland manager Craig Brown, Motherwell boss Terry Butcher and Derby County’s George Burley. Acknowledging that time is of the essence in filling the Gorgie seat, Anderton has been pleased with the progress which is being made.

"We are currently drawing up a broad list of people we want to contact as regards the vacant position," he said. "Depending on circumstances, we would like to start interviewing next week and we want to ensure we meet all those who we think are suitable.

"In an ideal world the interviews will begin next week but you can’t predict these things exactly. Clearly, though, we want the right man in place as soon as possible."

It was widely expected that the club would also be in the market for a director of football under a revised coaching structure. But Anderton today revealed that may not necessarily be the case.

"We are looking to bring in a manager and, if required, a football director who would have overall say from the youth academy upwards. However, depending on the experience, ability and calibre of the successful candidate, that may not be the case."

Director Liutauras Varanavicius said the board members were heavily involved in the process of unearthing a suitable individual.

He said: "The board will assist the chief executive as much as possible. We are currently sending each other details of possible names for the shortlist and discussing the issues concerning each one. It is difficult to say if we just want a manager right now or a technical director and a head coach because we have a lot of options available."

The transfer saga involving Lee Miller, meanwhile, has taken a fresh twist with Dundee United entering the race to sign the striker, who was a huge hit at Tynecastle during his loan move from Bristol City.

Hearts withdrew their offer after the player didn’t respond in time and the 22-year-old, who is in Walter Smith’s squad for the World Cup qualifier against Belarus and Moldova, is currently stalling on an offer from Aberdeen.

That has alerted Tennent’s Scottish Cup finalists United, who are set to step up their bid to snatch the player after they play Celtic in tomorrow’s Hampden Park showpiece.

Taken from the Scotsman