Hearts coach Gary Locke urges Tynecastle board to move fast to tie down boss Paulo Sergio

May 21 2012 By Craig Swan

GARY LOCKE last night pleaded with Vladimir Romanov to keep Paulo Sergio at Hearts.

The Jambos manager has not yet been in Gorgie for a full season but has already won the Scottish Cup after the weekend hammering of Hibs.

Club owner Romanov and Sergio will meet this week to discuss the club’s long-term plans and the manager does not know if he’ll be around next term.

But assistant gaffer Locke is desperate for the Hampden hero to stay in charge.

He said: “The board have always said they would get the final out of the way and then sit down with Paulo.

“Hopefully that will be done in the next couple of weeks and it would be massive to keep him.

“We’ve just won a trophy and you want a bit of stability, so it would be good if his future was sorted out.”

Hearts were 4-1 up and cruising after 50 minutes on Saturday at Hampden and Locke admits that cushion made Saturday’s historic win even sweeter.

He added: “That was the pleasing thing for myself and Paulo and the staff that we could just sit and enjoy the last 20 minutes as we knew the game was wrapped up.

“It is rare you get to enjoy these occasions due to the nerves but the last 20 minutes were brilliant.

“To go out and win in the manner we did was a dream come true for us all.”

Taken from the Daily Record