Day of drama at Hearts as Jim Jeffries returns after Csaba Laszlo sacking

• Jim Jeffries: The former Hearts manager has made a shock return to the club. Picture: SNS

Jefferies, 59, returned to the club he managed between 1995 and 2000 at the end of a dramatic day at Tynecastle.

Laszlo was dismissed after 18 months in charge. It is thought majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov finally lost patience with his repeated complaints about Hearts' transfer policy.

Jefferies, 59, returns to Tynecastle after nine years away. A former club captain during the 1970s, Jefferies was appointed manager in 1995 and led the club to three cup finals in successive seasons, culminating in Hearts beating Rangers in the 1998 Scottish Cup final and ending a 36-year wait to win a major honour.

His relationship with chief ex executive Chris Robinson soured and in 2000 he left Tynecastle to try his luck in the English Premiership with Bradford City. He left after a year and was manager of Kilmarnock for eight years, until leaving the Rugby Park club two weeks ago.

Hearts director Sergejus Fedotovas told the club's website: "We recognise that Jim Jefferies is a man that understands Heart of Midlothian Football Club and our supporters. We believe that he has the ability to realise the full potential of a very good squad of players. He was the board's unanimous choice to become manager and we wish him every success in returning to Tynecastle."

Jefferies said: "It did not take me too long to have a chat with them as everyone knows I have supported, played and managed the club. Everyone knows the affection I have got for the club.

"I think over the years a lot of people have linked me with the job a couple of times and there was a groundswell of hope. I didn't give it any thought until I got the call this afternoon. It is unbelievable to have been spoken to in connection with the job.

"It is like any job that you feel for a manager when he goes out. If I did not get it someone else would. The discussions went well and I know how things work in the club and now we've got to a stage where it is just a fantastic feeling to be back involved at the club again. Hopefully people will be happy with that."

Hearts play St Johnstone away in the league tomorrow then take on St Mirren in the semi-final of the Co-operative Cup on Tuesday.

Having already lifted the Scottish Cup in his first spell in charge, Jefferies now has the opportunity to become the first Hearts manager since Tommy Walker in the 1950s to lead the club to both domestic cups.