Hearts still scrapping as Jim Jefferies stays coy

By Neil Irvine

Heart of Midlothian (0) 1 Kilmarnock (1) 1

Let's cut to the chase, and the race to be Hearts manager. Jim Jefferies' visit to Tynecastle with his Kilmarnock side begged the question of a potential return to Hearts for a second managerial spell after guiding them to Scottish Cup success during his 1995-2000 reign.

Jefferies was giving nothing away. "I've absolutely no comment to make," said the Kilmarnock manager. "It would be disrespectful to both my own club and Hearts if I were to comment. Only if and when my chairman tells me he's been approached by another club for my services will I say something."

While the return of Jefferies and assistant Billy Brown would rekindle memories of the good old days it is debatable whether it would be a smart move.

Jefferies would no doubt bring a safe pair of hands to the club and, as Walter Smith has shown at Rangers, a step back can be a step forward.

However, it is unlikely that Hearts fans would view the return of a 57-year old as a statement of ambition and future intent. There is also the need to appoint someone who can give the club some structure and direction, while prepared to accept the presence of owner Vladimir Romanov. Admittedly, Romanov has promised to be less interfering in future playing matters, but - given his track record - it's going to take a lot more than words to change his hands-on approach at Tynecastle.

Steven Pressley, currently in and out of the Celtic side, would certainly be a brave, bold move as a possible player-manager, but the former Hearts captain's role as one of the rebel 'Tynecastle Three' would appear to knock that notion on the head.

So, who's left? Stevie Frail? Why not? At 38, Frail is young and keen, and given the freedom to pick his own team who knows what might be achieved. Frail doesn't lack the drive to succeed, and his honesty and humour portray an affable character who is no soft touch.

On Saturday, having seen his side slip behind on the stroke of half-time to Paul Di Giacomo's close-range shot from Jamie Hamill's driven cross, Frail had Hearts out on the pitch a good five minutes before Kilmarnock appeared for the second-half.

"I felt it important to lift the fans and the players," said Frail, who took a very honest view of his touchline altercation with Killie assistant coach Brown.

"Goodness knows what that was all about - it was all silly, bravado stuff," reflected Frail who, quite rightly, didn't find Hearts' lack of discipline so amusing.

Having had three players dismissed at Dundee United last Wednesday, Hearts once again had to endure deleted numbers after Calum Elliot was sent off 10 minutes from the interval for two rash, irresponsible challenges.

Frail intends to deal with the matter 'in-house' but something must be done. The indiscipline shown by Hearts players does not do justice to the fans or Frail.

On the positive side, Hearts' second-half display showed a pride and passion missing recently. Andrius Velicka's bundled equaliser just after the hour was wholly deserved and, had it not been for the ability and agility of Killie keeper Alan Combe and his many full-stretch saves, Hearts would have snatched only a second win in 13 matches.

Kilmarnock's league position isn't much healthier than Hearts. Hovering just a point above the Edinburgh side, both teams have it all to do between now and May if they are to enjoy their accustomed and respective top six finishes.

At least there's some respite this Saturday with the fourth round of the Scottish Cup, though neither Hearts nor Kilmarnock can be relishing their ties. Hearts play host to Mark McGhee's in-form Motherwell in an all-SPL affair while Killie travel to Second Division Airdrie in what has all the makings of a Cup upset.

Match details
Hearts (4-4-2): Banks; Goncalves, Neilson, Berra, Karipidis; Palazuelos, Ksanavicius (Mikoliunas 52), Jonsson, Cesnauskis (Pospisil 85); Elliot, Velicka (Nade 82).
Subs: Basso (g), Beniusis, Brown, McGowan.
Goal: Velicka (62).
Booked: Elliot.
Sent off: Elliot.
Kilmarnock (3-4-2-1): Combe: Hay, Ford, Corrigan; Clancy, Locke (Johnston 64), Fowler, Hamill; Di Giacomo (Gibson 80), Invincibile; Nish.
Subs: Harpur (g), Fernandez, Flannigan, Morgan, K Wright.
Goal: Di Giacomo (45).
Booked: Nish.
Referee: J Underhill (Scotland).

Taken from telegraph.co.uk