Derek McInnes is a step closer to becoming Hearts manager after the Tynecastle club agreed terms for the Kilmarnock boss to be released from his contract.
McInnes emerged as Hearts’ top target for the vacant head coach position after the sackign of Neil Critchley.
Talks between the clubs have been productive and McInnes’ representative is now able to discuss terms for the 53-year-old to take on the fifth job of his managerial career.
However, even if discussions are concluded quickly, McInnes will take charge of Kilmarnock’s two remaining games this season, against Motherwell at Fir Park on Wednesday and at home to Hearts this weekend.
“I’m led to believe that the clubs agreed terms yesterday,” McInnes said at his pre-match media conference on Tuesday. “Discussions are ongoing from that.
“I went for breakfast with (Kilmarnock majority shareholder Billy Bowie) this morning and my focus is fully on finishing this season with Kilmarnock.
“We’ve got two very important games still, and we want to finish the season as strongly as possible.
“That’s where it’s at. I’m trying to be as transparent as possible.
“There’s ongoing discussions but that’s for other people. For me it’s about concentrating on tomorrow night’s game at Motherwell.”
McInnes said that his talk with Bowie had been on good terms and that it was important for him to maintain a good relationship after a happy time in Ayrshire so far.
“Billy is brilliant and we’ve got a strong relationship,” the manager said. “That’s always been key for me, having that strong relationship with the owner.
“He allows me to deal with it and he gets on with his own business. He’s so important to the club, vitally important, and at times he doesn’t get the credit. Without him, things would be different about here.
“We’ve had a good relationship, and that will continue.
“It’s important to me that if and when I leave Kilmarnock, I’ll still be able to shake his hand, have a drink, and talk as openly as we do now.
“I’ve always tried to put Kilmarnock first.”
He added: “I’ve got a good relationship with the owners. When you work for clubs, as a manager, you work for the club and you work for the people within it.
“I’ve had opportunities, and good opportunities, to leave Kilmarnock, and I’ve always tried to do the right thing.”
For now, McInnes says his thoughts are on delivering a strong end to the season, and likely his time in charge, starting with a win at Motherwell.
“Lots of things can affect your focus, but your focus has to be on what’s important at the minute and that’s trying to finish the season as strongly as possible,” he said.
“Now, clearly, it’s so important for us to see if we can finish with five wins in a row. I don’t think we have done that since Bobby WIlliamson was here, so it’s important to work towards that.
“I think once we got safe, which was very important to us, it was a real celebration with supporters and a real sense of relief.
“To be one of those teams that are now safe, we just try and focus on winning the games.”
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