Robertson and Houston interested in Hearts job

Published on 03/03/2013 00:41

John Robertson and Peter Houston have thrown their hats into the ring for the vacant manager’s job at Hearts.

Both men are currently out of football and yesterday declared an interest in succeeding John McGlynn who left the club by mutual consent on Thursday.

Robertson, Hearts’ record league goalscorer, was in charge at Tynecastle in season 2004/05 before becoming owner Vladimir Romanov’s first managerial casualty.

He has been out of the game since leaving East Fife in 2012.

The 48-year-old was the ambassador for the recent Hearts share issue and said: “My name has been linked and I’m out of work with regards to the football aspect of it.

“Would I go and help the club? Yes of course I would. I stepped forward to help with the share issue which was needed, I spoke to director Sergejus Fedotovas and managing director David Southern on what was needed for that and it’s still ongoing. There’s still work to be done.

“That’s a different issue and football-wise, it’s up to Hearts, they’re the one with all the aces.

“They have to get it right for the club, take everything into consideration and then make the decision that they feel is best to take the club forward.

“If I’m part of that, I’ll try my very best, if not, then good luck to the person that gets it.”

Houston, above, a former Hearts assistant manager, is also interested in the job – if he is given control of incoming transfers. Houston, who worked under Craig Levein, left Tynecastle before Romanov took charge. The former Dundee United manager said: “You’d have to listen to what they had to say. I want to be a manager again and I want to work as soon as I can.

“I want to go into an environment where I’m going to be able to be in control of the playing budget and the players who come in and players who go out.

“You don’t have total control of the players who go out because, if a big transfer fee comes in for one of your best players, you have to accept it. But if there’s players coming in, and I know there’s players out there who would jump at the chance to go to Hearts, then you’d have to listen.”

Hearts claim they have been “inundated” with interest for their vacant position.