Jamie McAllister: the teams backs their new boss

Mark Bonthrone

HEARTS star Jamie McAllister today revealed that the Tynecastle players knew within ten minutes of meeting Graham Rix that he was the right man to lead the club forward.

The Jambos squad was called to the club's training complex at Riccarton on Monday evening to be introduced to new coach Rix, who has been handed a contract until the end of the season.

The former England internationalist, out of work since leaving Oxford United earlier this year, spoke briefly to the players before being officially unveiled to the media the next day. And, although his appointment has split the Capital club's support, McAllister said the players knew almost instantly that he was someone they could work with.

"We first met him earlier this week when he more or less just introduced himself and he made a good impression right-off," said McAllister.

"It was only a ten minute-or-so meeting and he just said that he wanted us to keep doing what we had been doing and that he was looking forward to working with us on the training pitch."

McAllister and those team-mates not involved in this weekend's international matches have also now had the chance to work with Rix first-hand on the training ground and the full-back revealed this has given the squad a lift.

"I've been very impressed by him so far," said the ex-Aberdeen and Livingston ace.

"He has a great coaching pedigree and, from the short time he's been here, I've found him to be a good communicator and a likeable guy.

"He's proved to be very approachable and already he's working on passing the ball and keeping hold of it. The training so far has been very enjoyable.

"He's talking about making sure the players enjoy the game and he really has been first class. He seems to be a real players' coach. He has his own style and he's introducing that slowly. But the impression he's made has been superb and it's good for the players that the boss issue has been sorted. It's been a couple of weeks since George Burley left now and there's no doubt that having the new man in to work with helps.

"We're all just looking forward to keeping the club moving forward now and hopefully picking up where we left off when the Aberdeen game comes round."

Taken from the Scotsman