Stephen Frail cannot stop Hearts going from bad to worse

The Heart of Midlothian board seems no closer to naming the “European-class new coach” they have long promised to deliver to Tynecastle. Men of the calibre of Nevio Scala, the former coach of Parma and Borussia Dortmund and Lothar Matthäus, the former German World Cup-winning captain, have been mentioned without actually signing anything to tie them to a move to Edinburgh.

Perhaps the Gorgie directors should be looking closer to home and turn to the past for the solution.

Jim Jefferies, the Kilmarnock manager, spent five enjoyable years at Tynecastle building a team that won the Scottish Cup and, as a result, cemented their place among the legends. On the basis of this lifeless display, there could not be a more popular move to bring the disillusioned home supporters back on side.

Even the promise of Cameron Diaz in a see-through bikini in the dugout next season would not bring about the same excitement to the Gorgie faithful as the return of their favoured son.

The only question is whether an experienced campaigner like Jefferies could be bothered tolerating the off-field nonsense that comes with the job. Telling Vladimir Romanov, the Hearts owner, where to stick his team selection suggestions may not go down with the Lithuanian owner who was posted missing from their final home game of the campaign.

It looks increasingly unlikely Stephen Frail, the caretaker manager, will get the post on a permanent basis as they slipped to a surprisingly lacklustre home defeat to Kilmarnock. It was the fourth time this season they have failed to overcome the Ayrshiremen as their league campaign slips from bad to worse.

Jefferies’ stock may not be as high as it once was, but he has had to deal with a cursed campaign that has robbed him of key first-team players for much of the season. Next season, Kilmarnock’s injury luck will surely change and they will not find themselves occupying the place above relegated Gretna. Where Hearts will be is anyone’s guess.

What Hearts need is an experienced manager with the courage of his convictions; someone who knows what is his best system and what is his strongest side. At Tynecastle, it seems the formations and players are put in some sort of tactical tombola to see what comes out.

Hearts wasted their chances while Kilmarnock took theirs with aplomb to clinch their first away victory since September. Just to add salt to the wounds, it was Grant Murray, the former Tynecastle defender, who inflicted the initial damage with a 74th-minute header before Paul Di Giacomo, the Kilmarnock substitute, sealed the points.

David Lilley, the Kilmarnock defender, admits the squad needs strengthening to avoid a similar scenario next season. “It’s been well-documented we’ve had a lot of injuries,” Lilley said. “We lost all our scorers so we’ve been struggling for goals but, hopefully, the gaffer can bring somebody in next season. We lost Stevie Naismith to Rangers and Colin Nish to Hibs and before that Kris Boyd to Rangers, so we’ve been lacking up front. I think the gaffer’s been in the game long enough to understand he’s working on a shoe-string here so it must be frustrating for him, but I would fancy us for top six next season if we avoid injuries.”

Frail is highly unlikely to be around next season to see if Hearts can mount a top-six challenge of their own. Whether it is Scala, Matthäus or indeed Jefferies, Frail’s position will be determined after summer talks with Romanov. Frail said: “I’m not going to criticise my players, but it’s disappointing the way the season is petering out. I put an onus on these games and wanted to go out on a high.”

Whether he means “go out” in terms of this season or his long-term position remains unclear. Frail, himself, is none to wiser, adding: “I’ve never sought assurances from Mr Romanov. I’ve just tried to do my best, though we came way short.”

Heart of Midlothian (4-5-1): S Banks 6 – J Thomson 7, H Karipidis 7, M Zaliukas 8, L Wallace 5 – D Cesnauskis 6, F Screpis 6, M Stewart 6 (sub: J Mole, 64min 5), L Kingston 6, E Jonsson 7 (sub: K Ivaskevicius, 57 5) – G Glen 5.Substitutes not used: M Ridgers, R Palazuelos, J Goncalves, M Rapnik, R McGowan.

Kilmarnock (4-4-2): A Combe 6 – G Murray 7, D Lilley 7, S Ford 8, G Hay 6 – A Johnston 5 (sub: P Di Giacomo, 71 6), J Fowler 6, J Hamill 7, M Taouil 5 (sub: G Locke, 87) – P Dalglish 7, D Fernandez 6 (sub: D Cox, 87).Substitutes not used: D Rascle, I Flannigan, P McInnes, S Anson. Booked: Fernandez.

Referee M Tumilty
Attendance 10,512

Taken from timesonline.co.uk