Hearts hopeful Piotr Nowak is handed Philadelphia ‘freedom’

Hearts hopeful Piotr Nowak was sacked by MLS outfit Philadelphia Union yesterday after reportedly applying for the vacant Tynecastle post.

The 47-year-old is thought to be among a multitude of candidates who have shown interest in the Tynecastle position since it was announced Paulo Sergio would not be continuing as manager last week.

The dismissal of the former Poland international is likely to make him a more attractive proposition for Hearts, given no compensation would now have to paid to clinch any deal.

Axed Nowak strenuously denied submitting his CV to the Edinburgh club, but Philadelphia Union CEO Nick Sakiewicz appeared to hint there was some credence in the link when announcing his manager’s departure.

He stated: “No employer, no manager, likes to read that his most important guy or most important asset is out looking for employment. It was not good timing. I do know we’re not on the same page and that’s why I decided to make that change.”

Nowak has previously been DC United manager and assistant coach to former USA national boss Bob Bradley. He had been at charge at Philadelphia since 2010.

With a record of just two wins in 11 MLS encounters this season, Nowak had felt the ire of Union fans who demanded his dismissal, and his purported interest in a move to the SPL only compounded matters. Sakiewicz added: “At some point, you wake up in the morning and you realise “this isn’t quite the way we want the Union brand represented”.

Under the time-frame laid out by director Sergejus Fedotovas last week, Hearts have little over a fortnight to appoint a manager, with the Lithuanian confirming he wishes a new manager to be in place by the time the squad reports for pre-season training on 2 July.