Hearts appoint Lee McCulloch and Gordon Forrest as assistants to Robbie Neilson

Gordon Forrest, left, and Lee McCulloch, right, join Robbie Neilson at Hearts. Pic: Heart of Midlothian FC

Hearts have appointed Lee McCulloch and Gordon Forrest as assistants to manager Robbie Neilson.

The triumvirate who guided Dundee United to promotion are now reunited at Tynecastle Park on contracts until summer 2023.

Neilson left Tannadice in June to rejoin Hearts but has had to wait to bring his coaching team to Edinburgh.

After both men completed their exits from United, Hearts moved quickly to confirm their places in Neilson’s new-look backroom team alongside goalkeeping coach Paul Gallacher.

McCulloch, 42, enjoyed a successful playing career with Motherwell, Wigan Athletic, Rangers, Kilmarnock and Scotland before retiring in 2016.

He managed Kilmarnock in 2017 before a brief spell as assistant coach with Polish club Lechia Gdańsk the following year. In 2019, he joined United.

Forrest, 43, played for Raith Rovers, Livingston, Leiftur of Iceland, East Fife and Berwick Rangers before starting his coaching career in New Zealand, where he worked with the women’s national team.

He joined the Canadian club Vancouver Whitecaps in 2012 and later became their assistant manager under Carl Robinson. He arrived at Tannadice 18 months ago.

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