Heart of Midlothian

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Neil Critchley is "an ambitious" head coach with "a desire to lead his teams to the top," says Hearts chief executive, Andrew McKinlay.

The former Blackpool boss has been named as Steven Naismith's successor at Tynecastle and has a contract running until the end of the 2026-27 season.

CEO McKinlay has never shied away from the use and importance of analytics in this search to find the Gorgie club's new head coach, and noted Critchley was one of a few "top quality candidates".

"We’ve made no secret of the fact that analytics has guided our search for a new manager, and that data presented us with many top quality options including Neil," McKinlay told Hearts' website.

"During the interview process, we got the opportunity to hear from applicants and get a better understanding of them as people and in particular how they have dealt with and learnt from particular situations both positive and negative in their careers.

"In addition, we were able to ascertain who would fit best into our new model going forward which includes the use of analytics for recruitment and the appointment of a new sporting director with very clear ideas of what we need to do to succeed.

"This was a vital part of our deliberations as any appointment has to be fully bought into this to ensure that we have the maximum chance of success.

"Following these discussions, it became very clear who the standout candidates were.

"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 with a desire to lead his teams to the top."

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Neil Critchley's name has been at the forefront of Scottish football conversation in recent days, but who is the new Hearts head coach?

He's no stranger to the dugout, having coached for over 20 years since retiring from playing at the age of 24.

He was most recently in charge of Blackpool, and only left his position fewer than two months ago.

The Englishman managed the Seasiders between 2020 and 2022 then returned to the Lancashire club in 2023 after a three-month spell in charge of Queens Park Rangers, where he won just one game from 12.

Critchley, who took Blackpool 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 involved with the Anfield club for nearly seven years, before becoming Steven Gerrard's assistant at Aston Villa for a short spell in 2022.

So, Hearts have their man, Neil Critchley has been appointed head coach until the end of the 2026-27 season.

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

We want to know what you make of the appointment.

Give us your thoughts on it right here., external

Former Heart of Midlothian defender Ryan Stevenson says he is "not sure I trust this move", with Neil Critchley poised to be appointed at Tynecastle. (Daily Record)

Hearts defender Kye Rowles is in Japan with Australia for a World Cup qualifier and reveals he would like to play in the J League later in his career. (Daily Record)

Read the rest of Tuesday's gossip.

Hearts are in advanced talks with former Blackpool and Queens Park Rangers head coach Neil Critchley over the vacant position at Tynecastle. (Edinburgh Evening News, external)

Critchley, 45, could be in post at Hearts by Tuesday. (Sun), external

Read Monday's Scottish gossip

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Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon insists there are positives to take from Saturday's 2-1 Nations League defeat in Zagreb.

Steve Clarke's side thought they had snatched a dramatic late draw, but Kristijan Jakic's own goal was ruled out for offside against Che Adams following a VAR check.

It means Scotland have won just one of their last 15 outings, but Gordon - who won his 76th cap having been left out of the summer's Euros squad - says they can bounce back against Portugal on Tuesday.

"We are disappointed, because we put in a performance we thought was worthy of taking something from the game," the veteran keeper said.

"We had good chances but just didn't take them. That seems to be the story of this Nations League but we have another game to look forward to now, we have another chance to get some points on the board and we have to focus on that."

"The boys gave everything. Defensively we were chucking ourselves in front of things when we had to, we defended our box well and carried a really good threat.

"In terms of what we worked on during the week a lot of it came off. We worked the ball really nicely. Another good performance but we can't keep saying that, we need to take results."

Scotland have now lost all three of their Nations League games by a one-goal margin, but Gordon says if they continue to work hard, the results will come.

"We are not far away," he said. "It's always going to be difficult when you come against pot one teams. You are going to have play really well to get anything from a game, especially an away game.

"We need to stick with it (the game plan), stick with each other and come back and show that fight again in the next game."

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Former Wales head coach Rob Page and experienced EFL manager Gary Rowett are contenders for the Hearts vacancy. (Sun), external

Read Sunday's Scottish gossip

We asked for your views on Hearts' talks with potential new managerial candidate Per-Mathias Hogmo breaking down.

Here's what some of you said:

Barry: A manager with proven pedigree and genuine success outside of the Scottish bubble is a rarity in Hearts' history. Paulo Sergio is probably the closest fit in recent times. I'm not sure what Hogmo could have been demanding that was unpalatable to the board, but it's yet another in a succession of missed managerial opportunities for the club.

Anon: What did Hogmo find out that made him walk away? Why does the board go for mediocre coaches and second-rate players year after year? Now whoever they offer the job to knows he’s second best! Basic miscalculation we've come to expect again and again.

Steven: Shambles. The answer is staring the board in the face. Don't need analytics to appoint a manager to get us back in the top six. Trying to walk before we can run. We've seen this play out before and we ended up in the Championship. The board are incompetent when it comes to on-the-pitch matters.

Gary: Just pay the money and get the number one target and a decent coach, instead of penny pinching like the last three or four times. It's embarrassing!

Chris: Let me guess, Hearts have tried to get someone on the cheap, again. We're about to lose Lawrence Shankland because we are being cheap and I'm more than convinced we missed this target due to being cheap too. I fully understand being prudent with our money but it is getting ridiculous now. Half expect Craig Levein to come wandering out. Shambles.

Ronnie: I hope the board think again about the final two on the shortlist because I just don't think this is the way forward. I do realise that the likes of Steve Clarke are under contract and probably being paid more than we could offer but I still think a question needs to be asked to either him or Derek McInnes, both have good track records and know how to win.

Hearts could move for Vasteras SK's Kalle Karlsson as their next manager following the breakdown of talks with Per-Mathias Hogmo. (The Scottish Sun), external

Read the rest of Saturday's Scottish Gossip

Hearts identified Per-Mathias Hogmo as their preferred candidate to succeed Steven Naismith as head coach, but talks have fallen through with the former Norway boss.

Do you think the Tynecastle club will regret missing out on the 64-year-old, or do you think they are right to look at other options?

Have your say here, external.

BBC Scotland's Edinburgh football reporter Brian McLauchlin has been answering your questions.

Greig asked: Brian, having covered Hearts for many years, where would you rank our current slump compared to the previous highs and lows? Is it just part and parcel of top-flight football or have we really fallen off the cliff edge?

Brian answered: Clubs tend to have cycles of highs and lows and Hearts are no different.

It's 26 years since I started covering the club for the BBC and Liam Fox is number 30 in terms of either permanent or interim coaches in the charge of the first team I have interviewed in that time. That alone tells you all has not been a walk in the park for those in the job.

In terms of comparing this with previous slumps, I think you still have a bit to go to beat the 2019-20 campaign that ended with relegation when the season was cut short due to Covid.

It was evident from some way out that Daniel Stendal was out of his depth and his inability to accept it was all going wrong ended up with Hearts going down.

The Romanov era was also a rollercoaster period for the club. Fans were treated to some of the finest football in years with players like Rudi Skacel and Roman Bednar wearing the maroon shirt with pride.

Champions League play-offs and cup wins in the sunshine at Hampden were enjoyed by the fans but all the time the debt was spiralling out of control with the inevitability of administration and then relegation.

Incredibly, season 2013-14 when Hearts were relegated due to the points deduction that came with administration, the team played in front of packed houses most weeks.

With a transfer embargo imposed Gary Locke had to make do with the squad from the previous season combined with a smattering of younger players.

Indeed, if it was not for the points deduction Hearts would have finished above Hibernian, who also ended up being relegated in the play-offs thanks to a home defeat to Hamilton.

So, when you follow any club, be prepared to not get too high when things are going well and don’t be too down when things are looking grim. It's a cliche but yes it is part and parcel supporting a team!

Hearts want to make 64-year-old Norwegian Per Mathias Hogmo, who led Rosenborg and Sweden's Hacken to league titles and was most recently with Urawa Red Diamonds, their new head coach after he and former Blackpool manager Neil Critchley made it down to the final two on the shortlist. (Daily Record), external

Hearts chief executive Andrew McKinlay says he would happily reopen contract talks with Scotland striker Lawrence Shankland, whose current deal ends next summer, but warned he will never smash the club’s wage structure to keep the 29-year-old club captain. (Daily Record), external

Former Hearts head coach Ian Cathro retains the backing of Estoril investors despite the 38-year-old Scot's side sitting fourth bottom of the Portuguese top flight after only one win in eight league matches. (A Bola), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

BBC Scotland's Edinburgh football reporter Brian McLauchlin has been answering your questions.

Ronnie asked: Why have we not looked at Steve Clarke or Derek McInnes for the manager's position? I realise Jimmy Thelin has rejuvenated Aberdeen but there are no guarantees with a foreign coach. What's your thoughts?

Brian answered: There is no doubt Clarke and McInnes will have been considered. Looking at their achievements in the game and with the Tynecastle job being one of the biggest club jobs in the country, it is only right they were looked at.

Clarke is under contract with Scotland until the 2026 World Cup, so the chances of him being lured away to a club job that pays less and is going through a troublesome time are very thin.

McInnes, however, is an interesting one. Close to 750 games in charge at four different clubs, with a win ratio of 46%.

His win ratio at Aberdeen was over 50% across an eight-year period. Cynics would call into question the style of play and just one trophy in that period.

But his stats are impressive and only those in charge at Hearts will know why they have decided to go down a different route.

As for the gamble of a foreign manager/head coach being appointed, there are risks taken every time you change the top job.

Look at Manchester United. Sir Alex Ferguson was probably one defeat away from losing his job in his early days at Old Trafford. They stuck by him and the rest is history.

David Moyes looked to be the perfect man to come in and replace Fergie when he eventually retired. We all know how that ended up and United have gone from failure to failure ever since.

Hearts may well decide the new man will be a foreigner. Whoever that is will have to work within the structure of a sporting director and utilise the new recruitment model about to be put in place at the club.

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Hibernian defender Lewis Miller scored his first international goal as Australia came from behind to beat China 3-1 in World Cup qualifying.

In Tony Popovic's first game as new head coach, China took the lead in Adelaide before Miller powered in a header from a wide free-kick just before the break.

The Socceroos went on to take the lead in the second half through Craig Goodwin before Nishan Velupillay added a late third.

Hearts' Kye Rowles played the entire game in defence, but there were no minutes for Motherwell striker Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, who did not get off the bench.

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Goalkeeper Craig Gordon will go into the upcoming Nations League games "unfazed" by the prospect of coming straight back into the team, says former Scotland boss Alex McLeish.

With Angus Gunn dropping out of the squad injured, 41-year-old Gordon is in line to start against Croatia and Portugal just months after the Hearts man thought his international career might have been over.

Regardless of his age, McLeish insists the veteran keeper, who has won 75 caps and became Scotland's oldest international with an appearance off the bench against Finland in June, will still have the drive and ability to shine in a tough double-header against Croatia and Portugal.

"He's got fantastic experience and will go into these games unfazed," McLeish told BBC Scotland. "You still get that adrenaline rush, whatever age you are.

"Angus has been tremendous for us, he's been an ever-present almost, but we’ve got a good man going in to back him up."

After failing to "meet the standards" Scotland set in qualifying with a poor showing at the Euros in Germany in summer, McLeish is backing head coach Steve Clarke to turn things around amid a poor run of just one win in 14 games.

But Clarke has been rocked by an injury crisis, which has the former Scotland boss fearing another challenging camp.

"Steve will definitely be wanting to try and get some sort of positive result because it is a difficult time when you lose a lot of your players," he added.

"It's a really tough one but he's still got some players who are in great form at the moment. And he always sets them up well in these away games.

"But if he loses a lot of the quality in the team then that is going to make it much more difficult. Believe me, it’s all about the quality of the players at the end of the day."

Hearts midfielder Yan Dhanda says the All India Football Federation wants to call him into their international squad to aid their World Cup qualifying bid, but the country's government is standing by its rule not to call up players from outside India. (Scottish Sun), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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Hearts were beaten 3-1 by Raith Rovers in a testimonial match for Rovers' midfielder Ross Matthews during which several first-team players were handed minutes.

Blair Spittal opened the scoring before the break at Stark's Park having also netted in the weekend's defeat by Aberdeen.

However, Rovers hit back through second-half goals from Lewis Jamieson, Jack Hamilton, and Dylan Easton.

Alongside Spittal, Hearts also gave game time to Barrie McKay, Jorge Grant, Malachi Boateng, Yutaro Oda, Liam Boyce, Yan Dhanda, Adam Forrester, Craig Halkett, James Penrice, and Alan Forrest, as well as several young players.

What would you like to ask Brian McLauchlin about Hearts?

Our Edinburgh football reporter is in the hotseat ready to answer your questions and offer his insight and opinion on your club.

Who has been the top performer so far? Will the club get the right manager in place?

Put your questions to Brian here, external.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

After the euphoria of a last minute-winner in Azerbaijan night to kick off their Conference League campaign in style, the harsh realities of football were once again thrust upon Hearts at Pittodrie on Sunday.

A gallant performance, probably the best of the season, was delivered but the footballing gods were not looking down favourably on the Tynecastle club.

It's now time to take stock and prepare for some huge matches after the International break. And the burning question is who will be in charge by the time St Mirren come to Tynecastle on Saturday week?

CEO Andrew McKinlay has been holding a series of interviews over the past week with a view to identifying two or three candidates worthy of chatting to a second time.

He has said it won't be a Scot who will be handed the role on a permanent basis and some Hearts fans will be pleased they are looking further afield for a replacement for Steven Naismith.

The importance of this appointment, though, cannot be underestimated. Every new head coach or managerial appointment can be looked upon as a risk but on this occasion there is very little room for error.

Scottish football is littered with people who arrive feeling they can reinvent the wheel and take their club to the top end of the game. But this will be tough. With Hearts rooted at the bottom of the Premiership, the new manager will not have the luxury of a 'honeymoon period' to bed himself in.

He must hit the ground running and somehow find a way to get a winning tune out of the players at his disposal.

In the meantime the focus is on the board and who they choose. Time is not on their side but similarly this is not a decision that should be rushed.

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Craig Gordon is determined to reclaim the Scotland number one jersey for Saturday's Nations League match in Croatia just four months after fearing his international career was over.

The 41-year-old was cut from Scotland's Euro 2024 squad a week before the tournament began, with Angus Gunn, Liam Kelly and his Hearts colleague Zander Clark getting the nod to go to Germany.

With none of the Euros trio in the current squad - Gunn withdrawing due to injury and Clark and Kelly left out as a result of not playing at club level - Gordon is expected to win his 76th cap by being chosen ahead of uncapped duo Jon McCracken and Robby McCrorie to make his first Scotland start in almost two years.

"I just want to see where we go over this week, try and get myself in the team for the first game over in Croatia and see where it goes," said Gordon.

"There's no long-term thoughts other than just trying to play the next game and if I manage to play that one, then the one after that. It's really as short-term as that at the moment.

"Most other countries have probably gone through that [changing goalkeepers] a lot more. We've just had a very stable, settled group of goalkeepers over the last 20 years, and perhaps even longer.

"It's our turn to maybe be in the middle of that with injuries and players not playing."

Gordon's return to the national team comes after ousting Clark as first choice at Hearts amid a "strange" time, with the Tynecastle club winless and bottom of the Premiership after eight games.

"Winning games would help, keeping clean sheets would help, but it's been a difficult period for everybody," he added.

"I've been making saves in games and we've still been losing, so it's not going to get highlighted as much as it would if you contribute to a winning performance.

"It's a very strange time. I don't think I've ever been in a run quite like this at any stage of my career, so it's a bit new to me to go on a run as bad as this. It's not nice.

"I want to get back to winning matches and then I'll feel a bit better about myself, regardless of personal performances."

Greg Playfair
Fan writer

It's fair to say there are maroon shoots of recovery despite the 3-2 defeat at Pittodrie.

It's the best 90-minute performance we have seen from the team this season and we really should have been heading back down the A90 with at least at point.

I'm not one to single out individuals for errors, but you could look at either the Jorge Grant sending off or Kenneth Vargas ballooning over the bar as moments that perfectly represent our season to date.

We've seen individual mistakes in practically all our games, which have cost us dearly, but Grant’s foul on Duk while on a booking is arguably the worst given it swung the pendulum of momentum back in Aberdeen’s favour as we went down to 10 men.

Vargas' earlier opportunity, while the match was still 1-1, is glossed over by some given we still went on to score the next goal, but still makes me curse out loud as he spurned the option to play in Lawrence Shankland.

One of the big positives was the performance of some of our new signings. It could be said it was the best performance so far from Blair Spittal, Yan Dhanda, James Penrice and Daniel Oyegoke.

I think the reason for that is Liam Fox has kept it simple with his tactics, not overcoaching players like Steven Naismith did – with Gerard Taylor being a prime example – and playing them in their best positions.

I like the young right-back Adam Forrester, but he’s looked raw in his last two appearances and the solid game from Oyegoke, who has taken knee-jerk criticism already in his short Hearts spell, including from Sportsound pundit Allan Preston, augurs well and I hope that he gets a run of games to show why he has been a regular England youth international all the way up to Under-20s.

There's so much conjecture as to who our next head coach will be that even Agatha Christie would be on tenterhooks to trying to keep up with the speculation.

If it is to be a non-British managerial appointment as expected, that would certainly mean Fox and his staff will still be in charge for the St Mirren and Hibernian games, as we would need to get a work permit for the new man.

Given how each game has got incrementally better with Fox leading the team, that points to a 5-1 scudding of Hibs at Easter Road, which something I could get on board with before we start life under our new foreign, hipster manager.