Relaxed Rix wished his players the best of luck

SACKED Hearts coach Graham Rix was delighted to see the Tynecastle club reach the Tennent's Scottish Cup final.

Rix was removed by the club last month, with Valdas Ivanauskas appointed interim first-team coach until the end of the season.
7 Wonders

Former England international Rix appeared to have the backing of his players at the time of his departure, while rumours persisted that owner Vladimir Romanov often selected the squad ahead of him.

Despite the drama behind the scenes at the club, Rix was still pleased with their 4-0 defeat of Hibernian to set up a clash with Gretna in the final.

"I was relaxed watching the game. I wanted them to win and I'm absolutely delighted for the guys, because they've had so much to contend with throughout this season," Rix told Sky Sports.

Hearts were second in the Bank of Scotland Premier League when Rix departed, and he believes the players he left behind have genuine quality. And before yesterday's game had even kicked off, he identified correctly the key player in the Tynecastle side's ranks.

"I think it's a strong team. They've got power up front; they've got a great back four - and in Paul Hartley they have a midfield dynamo who is a likely match-winner," said Rix.

It was reported yesterday morning that Ivanauskas was quite happy for Rix to visit the Hearts dressing room at Hampden before kick-off, and deliver a message of support to the players before taking his place in the television studio.

But Rix declined the opportunity, believing that it was not his place to distract the Hearts players so close to such a big occasion.

Instead, he greeted the Hearts squad when the team coach arrived at Hampden, and wished his former charges all the best as they made their way into the national stadium.

Rix admitted that the shock of his sacking still hurts him, but added that he hoped Hearts would go on to win the cup.

Asked after the match if he would shake the hand of Ivanauskas to congratulate him on taking Hearts to the final, Rix replied that he had done that already.

Meanwhile, another former Hearts manager has refused to rule out what would be a shock return to Tynecastle.

Craig Levein quit Hearts for Leicester City 15 months ago as the Gorgie club's majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov began his quest to take control of the Edinburgh club.

John Robertson, George Burley and Rix have all come and gone in that period as the management of the club has undergone almost constant upheaval.

Levein, axed by the Foxes recently, would consider the possibility of a return to Edinburgh.

"If the job comes up at Hearts, the fact that I'm out of work means that speculation about me will be something that happens," said Levein at the weekend.

"I'm not ruling anything out."

Taken from the Scotsman