Hearts name ex-Blackpool boss Critchley as head coach

Heart of Midlothian have appointed former Blackpool and Queens Park Rangers manager Neil Critchley as their head coach.

The 45-year-old succeeds Steven Naismith, who was sacked last month after a winless start to the Scottish Premiership season and a run of eight consecutive defeats.

Critchley has signed a deal that runs until the end of the 2026-27 season and a media conference is expected to take place on Tuesday.

He will be assisted by former Liverpool academy, Blackpool, Lincoln City and QPR coach Mike Garrity.

The Englishman managed Blackpool between 2020 and 2022 then returned to the Lancashire club in 2023 after a three-month spell in charge of QPR.

Critchley, who took the Seasiders up to the Championship in England via the play-offs in 2021, has won 77 and drawn 47 of his 185 games as a manager.

He coached Liverpool at under-age level and was Steven Gerrard's assistant at Aston Villa for a short spell in 2022.

"We've made no secret of the fact analytics has guided our search and that data presented us with many top-quality options," chief executive officer Andrew McKinlay told the Hearts website.

"We were able to ascertain who would fit best into our new model going forward, which includes the use of analytics for recruitment.

"Neil understands well what we are looking to do, has experience at big club environments, none more so than at Liverpool, and is an ambitious coach."

B team boss Liam Fox oversaw the draw with Ross County in the Premiership, the Conference League win against Dinamo Minsk and the defeat by Aberdeen following Naismith's exit.

Hearts, who are bottom of the Premiership with two points from eight fixtures, had been in discussions with former Norway boss Per-Mathias Hogmo before talks broke down.

"I have been privileged to be involved in this process ahead of officially commencing my role and I have been impressed at how robust and concise it has been," added incoming sporting director Graeme Jones.

"Our analytics partners, who have an extremely good track record of managerial appointments in the UK and abroad, worked with us to provide a shortlist of compelling and contrasting options.

"Neil was the outstanding candidate based on the analytics and, having spoken with him at length, I believe he is who we need to provide success."

Hearts finished third in the Scottish top flight last season and reached the semi-finals of both domestic cup competitions.

Defeat by Viktoria Plzen over two legs in the Europa League consigned Naismith's side to the Conference League but the former Scotland forward had been sacked by the time its league phase began earlier this month.

The Tynecastle side host St Mirren in the Premiership on Saturday then welcome Cypriot club Omonia Nicosia in their first home Conference League game the following Thursday.

The first Edinburgh derby of the season against Hibernian takes place on 27 October.