By Ronnie Esplin, PA Sport

Hearts legend Gary Mackay has added his voice to the growing clamour for Valdas Ivanauskas to be given the job as head coach at Tynecastle on a permanent basis.

The Jambos' interim head coach replaced the sacked Graham Rix in March and guided the club to their first trophy in eight years, beating Gretna on penalties in the Tennent's Scottish Cup final at Hampden on May 13.

The Edinburgh club also finished second behind Celtic in the Bank of Scotland Premier League which earned them a place in the Champions League qualifiers for the first time.

Ivanauskas is waiting until majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov decides whether to give him the nod, although the Lithuanian is apparently in no rush to make that decision.

"I want to have a holiday to get away from football for a while," Romanov said.

"It may well be that I will wait until I return before announcing any decision about the coaches at Hearts for the new season."

However, a fans' poll in one Edinburgh newspaper claimed 98% of Hearts supporters want the former FBK Kaunas coach to be confirmed as boss, and Mackay is of no mind to disagree with the Hearts faithful.

He told PA Sport: "I don't always agree with the Hearts fans but I agree with them on this issue, I hope Valdas does get the job.

"It's no surprise that the supporters are almost totally behind him.

"He has worked with coach John McGlynn in steadying the ship since March and they have won the Scottish Cup.

"And who would they bring in? Would it be someone who knows all about the club or would it be someone who is fresh but who is at this moment studying all the videos?

"It's hard to second-guess Hearts as we know but personally I think Valdas should get the job.

"And if he doesn't then it's important that he stays in some capacity.

"He can provide that link between the dressing room and the Lithuanians in the boardroom, a direct line of communication that will be beneficial."

Mackay insists the Hearts players, who performed under four different managers last season, will be unconcerned about who will lead them into the new campaign.

Mackay, who played for Hearts in the 1980s and 1990s, said: "After everything that's gone on at Hearts last season the players will just get on with it.

"They will be on their holidays now, happy to get away from it all.

"And when they come back they will just want someone they can relate to as the gaffer.

"But they will cope with any decision that is made."

Taken from sportinglife.com