Hearts aiming to have new manager by October international break

Hearts are hoping to have a new manager in place by next month’s international break.

The Tynecastle club dismissed Steven Naismith at the weekend following eight consecutive defeats across all competitions.

A 2-1 defeat to St Mirren on Saturday means they are still waiting on their first win this season, with the opening day draw to Rangers the only game they have avoided defeat.

They currently sit bottom of the Premiership and have been knocked out of the League Cup and the Europa League.

B-Team boss Liam Fox has been named as the interim manager until an appointment is made and he will lead the team into the game against Ross County on Saturday and their Conference League opener against Dinamo Minsk.

They also face a trip to Aberdeen before the international break that will take place between October 7 and October 19 when they will play St Mirren in Gorgie.

Hearts are currently in talks with Brighton chairman Tony Bloom over a potential £10m investment into the Tynecastle club and his firm Jamestown Analytics will be involved in the search for Steven Naismith’s replacement.

Former Hamilton, Norwich and Stoke City boss Alex Neil has been named as the early favourite by bookmakers with St Mirren’s Stephen Robinson and Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes also said to be in the running.

Arnar Gunnlaugsson, who is currently in charge of Vikingur in Iceland, has also been mentioned.

The ex-Bolton Wanderers forward had a short spell in Scotland at Dundee United in the 2002/03 season and has been Vikingur manager since 2018.