Robson favourite but Hearts rule out swift replacement for Burley

Ewan Murray
Tuesday October 25, 2005
The Guardian

Though Sir Bobby Robson remains the leading candidate to replace George Burley as Hearts manager, the club will go into tomorrow's SPL match with Kilmarnock under the guidance of John McGlynn and Valdas Ivanauskas.

The Hearts chairman George Foulkes confirmed that Robson was back in the frame while admitting no new manager would be in place for Saturday's derby with Hibernian. Burley left Tynecastle on Friday after only 12 competitive matches following a fall-out with the club's major shareholder Vladimir Romanov.

Romanov last night issued a statement in which he sought to reassure supporters and "categorically" ruled out Ivanauskas, the former manager of the Lithuanian side FB Kaunas, as Burley's successor. "I have kept all my promises to Hearts fans and want them to know they and the club can look forward to further investment," he said. "However, we will not be rushed into a decision on a new manager. I have always said that we will pay for quality and professionalism, and that does not mean taking the first individual available."

Robson, who was interviewed for the job in June, is regarded as the favourite because of his willingness to admit an interest in public, his desire to return to club management, the proximity of Tynecastle to his north-east home and continued good relations with the club's directors. He will travel to Edinburgh on Thursday morning for the funeral of Johnny Haynes, a former team-mate at Fulham.

Foulkes said: "Sir Bobby is certainly one we will be looking at [but] there will be nobody in place before the weekend."

Hearts confirmed their chief scout Simon Hunt and goalkeeping coach Malcolm Webster, who both arrived with Burley in July, have also left the club.

Burley, meanwhile, admitted he faced an uncertain future. "I thought I did very well for the club," he said, "but nothing surprises you in football. Who knows what the future holds for me?

"I left the club in as good a position as it has ever been in. I have left a smashing group of players who have a fantastic spirit and there was a great camaraderie between them and myself. Hopefully, they can remain together and go from strength to strength."

Taken from the Guardian/Observer