HEARTS NAME RIX AS HEAD COACH

New Hearts first-team coach Graham Rix expects to be working under a director of football at Tynecastle.

The former Arsenal and England striker has been appointed by Jambos' majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov to work with the team after the departure of George Burley over two weeks ago.

The 48-year-old met with the Tynecastle first team on Monday at the club's Riccarton training ground.

And now he will take charge of the team in his first appointment since leaving Oxford in March.

Rix will now be officially unveiled at a 2pm press conference at Tynecastle on Tuesday.

But, when asked if he would be working under a director of football at Hearts, Rix said: "As far as I can see, yes, but obviously there is going to be a press conference and we will go into more detail then.

"But I am delighted to have met them and they are a good set of lads.

"I am looking forward to working with them."

Rix was a guest of Romanov at the Bank of Scotland Premier League win over Dundee United and is relishing the chance of a return to the training ground.

He told Sky Sports News: "I saw them on Saturday and thought they were excellent, especially in the first half.

"I am really looking forward to the challenge - it is a big challenge.

"This is a massive chance for me and I am very grateful for the opportunity and I am determined to make a go of it."

Former Chelsea coach Ray Wilkins, who succeeded Rix at Stamford Bridge in 1999, believes his ex-international team-mate can prove to be a success in his coaching role - no matter who is above him.

He told BBC Scotland: "As long as people have dialogue going on, then I don't think there is a problem.

"It is very important to keep the dialogue, whether it be the old English way or you act on the European way.

"It is when the parties are pulling against each other that things fall apart."

Burley guided the club to the top of the SPL during a thrilling start to the season as the team won their first eight matches.

The Jambos remained unbeaten until the Edinburgh derby on October 29 when Hibernian emerged as 2-0 victors.

But former Rangers midfielder Wilkins has assured Jambos' fans Rix has the right mentality to maintain the momentum built up by Burley.

He said: "I have no idea what Graham's brief will be. He is probably extremely pleased to be back involved.

"I don't know the situation, I don't know if there will be someone coming over the top of him or what.

"But, if that is the case and Graham has taken on board what Mr Romanov has said, then he is obviously delighted to be taking the job.

"He has the mentality most certainly because he did it with Chelsea.

"But it is whether the players have the mentality at the end of the day.

"The players have to go out and play and it is the Old Firm that have governed Scottish football for many a year.

"He will certainly have the mentality that it can be done."

Rix emerged as a front-runner at the weekend, while Sir Bobby Robson, Ottmar Hitzfeld and Claudio Ranieri had also been linked with the Tynecastle vacancy.

Since the departure of Burley the Edinburgh club have undergone a shake-up within the hierarchy.

Chief executive Phil Anderton was sacked a week ago and chairman George Foulkes resigned in protest at the decision.

Roman Romanov, Vladimir's son, replaced Foulkes and he has urged the Jambos fans to give Rix a chance.

Hearts Supporters Trust chairman Martin Laidlaw has admitted Rix's 1999 conviction for unlawful sex with a 15-year-old girl and indecent assault has caused anxiety.

But Romanov told the club's official website, www.heartsfc.co.uk: "Graham has a lot of experience with Chelsea where he won six trophies in three and a half years.

"He knows what he is doing, knows football and he has great desire for the job. That is why we made the decision.

"I definitely understand how the fans feel but I would ask them to look at his professional career.

"He achieved a lot with Chelsea. He had problems and it is in the past and every man deserves a second chance.

"He is hungry to be coach here and you can see it in his eyes.

"Graham has knowledge and the ability to make these football players better and push Hearts further."

The Lithuanian is convinced Rix will prove to be a success at Tynecastle.

Romanov said: "Like a player, it can be difficult to find his team sometimes.

"A player can be very good but it does not click.

"After Chelsea, he moved to other clubs where I feel the surroundings and conditions were not right for him.

"He can have a good communication with players. He is a very good at keeping them upbeat.

"He knows he can make a player a better player."

Taken from sportinglife.com