Homegrown hero Jefferies is the man to make Hearts beat again, says ex-keeper Rousset

Published on Saturday 14 June 2008 19:43

FORMER Hearts goalkeeper Gilles Rousset believes Vladimir Romanov is making a mistake by snubbing Jim Jefferies in his quest to appoint a new manager.

Romanov hopes to unveil his new appointment this week – with Icelandic coach Gudjon Thordarson, Slovakian Vladimir Weiss and Andrei Zygmantovic of Kaunus in the frame.

Jefferies masterminded Hearts' 1998 Scottish Cup success and is regarded as one of the best managers in the country, but Romanov has looked abroad.

Rousset said: "If I was picking the new manager the man at the top of my list would be Jim Jefferies. I think he would be great for the club right now. He is a Jambo through-and-through, an excellent coach and he would bring some spirit back to Tynecastle.

"They need a man like that at the helm and the biggest single quality that Jim has for the job is that he is Scottish.

"With all respect to Vladimir Weiss, what does a man in charge of Artmedia Bratislava know about Hearts?

Gudjon Thordarson at least has had experience of British football at Stoke City. But none of the candidates are as suited for the post as Jim.

"The one thing I know for certain about Jim is that he would want complete control of the team – he'd want it to be 100 per cent his."

Rousset has never lost his affection for a side that he spent six years at before retiring in 2001 and it hurts him to see them struggle in their current plight.

He added: "When I was at Hearts the crowd were buoyant.

Hearts need to get their Scottish roots back. We were so successful because we had a side that was 80 per cent Scottish.

"I'd love nothing more than to see Hearts get back to where they belong but I have my doubts it can happen."