Frail in charge as Hearts begin pre-season

Published on Tuesday 24 June 2008 23:32

HEARTS have confirmed that Stevie Frail will resume his role as caretaker manager when the first-team squad return for pre-season training this morning.

The former Tynecastle full-back was installed as interim head coach on 1 January as club owner Vladimir Romanov launched his search for a new manager.

With primary target Mark McGhee having since stunned the Gorgie hierarchy with his decision to remain at Motherwell, the hunt appears no closer to a successful conclusion.

Icelander Gudjon Thordarson of Akranes, Slovakian Vladimir Weiss of Artmedia Bratislava and Russian Andrei Zygmantovich of FBK Kaunas were said to be on a three-man shortlist for the job following McGhee's snub.

However, with former France manager Jacques Santini intriguingly throwing his name into the frame, Weiss is now thought to be favourite to take over the Slovakian national team and Thordarson has not been contacted by the club.

Director Sergejus Fedotovas last month indicated he was confident an appointment would be made before the start of pre- season training but the club remains in a state of limbo as players return.

They will at least have the comfort of familiar faces on the training field when they begin their warm-up for the new campaign in the coming days, however, with Frail and sport director Anatoly Korobochka in charge of overseeing preparations following today's medical and fitness tests.

A club spokesman said: "The players are due back in at the club and Stevie Frail will be in his usual caretaker's role."

Hearts' most promising youngsters have been challenged to follow in the footsteps of teenage striker Gary Glen and win themselves a first-team place in the coming campaign.

Under-19s coach Darren Murray said: "There are a lot of talented youngsters here, as well as a real desire and hunger within the squad. Gary Glen broke through last season and Scott Robinson also made his debut, so the lads know they will get an opportunity if they are doing well."