David Weir and Adrian Bevington in running for Hearts sporting director job

Former Hearts defender David Weir is in contention for the club's sporting director job.

David Weir and Adrian Bevington are both contenders for the sporting director vacancy at Hearts.

Owner Ann Budge is interviewing candidates this week and Weir, a former Hearts defender, is in the running along with Bevington, who was Middlesbrough’s head of recruitment until December last year.

Budge wants an experienced figurehead to oversee the football department at Riccarton after appointing Robbie Neilson manager on Sunday.

Weir, 50, is currently loans manager with English Premier League club Brighton and Hove Albion. Bevington, 48, is a former communications director with the English FA but has been out of work since leaving Middlesbrough.

Hearts have assessed a number of candidates for the sporting director role in recent weeks. The remit is similar to the director of football job held by Craig Levein in recent years.

Weir is content in England after four years working as Mark Warburton’s assistant with Brentford, Rangers and Nottingham Forest. He could, though, be tempted by an offer to return to Tynecastle Park in a high-ranking role.

Bevington is keen to return to football and believes a sporting director position would suit his skill set. He is willing to consider a move to Scotland if given the opportunity.

Budge said last week that she wanted to appoint a sporting director before deciding on a manager after Daniel Stendel’s contract became invalid following Hearts’ enforced relegation.

However, the move to bring Neilson back to Edinburgh from Dundee United came as a surprise. With his three-year contract signed, filling the sporting director role is now a priority ahead of next season.

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