Hearts want boss by start of next month

HEARTS have opened talks with their preferred candidates for the vacant manager’s job at Tynecastle and hope to make an appointment by the start of next month.

Vladimir Romanov, the club’s majority shareholder, has identified a number of potential replacements for the departed Paulo Sergio. He and director Sergejus Fedotovas are now holding discussions with the men in question.

The intention is to have a new manager in place for pre-season training beginning in the first week of July. Fedotovas is remaining coy on who the candidates are, although the Evening News has learned that it is a mix of UK-based and continental coaches.

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After conducting their round of talks, Romanov and Fedotovas will pinpoint the person they want to take charge of Hearts for next season.

“I would say the timescale (for an appointment) will probably be before the start of next month,” Fedotovas told the Evening News today. “We are speaking to several candidates at the moment and these are very sensitive discussions.”

John McGlynn has been recommended to the Tynecastle board but Romanov and Fedotovas have contacts of their own based across Europe who could come into the equation.

Meanwhile, Hearts’ Australian defender Ryan McGowan today stressed his desire to stay with the Edinburgh club despite reports of a possible transfer to England. Although the club will listen to any sensible offer for any player as they cut costs, McGowan insisted he does not intend moving after tasting Scottish Cup success last month.

“I’m happy and settled here and want to land another deal at Tynecastle,” he said. “I’ll have to see what the club wants to do, but I certainly want to give them the first option because they believed in me.

“I would like to stay for another couple of years and improve my game further. I am already a better player now than I was 12 months ago. I feel I’m coming off a good season with Hearts – winning the cup was incredible – and I have something to build on.”

McGowan also reiterated his wish to represent Australia at international level, despite being eligible for Scotland because his parents are from Glasgow. “There has never been any doubt in my mind, I’ve always wanted to play for the Socceroos and I’m hoping it will happen,” he continued. “There is only one country I want to represent and that’s Australia.”

Polish midfielder Adrian Mrowiec has joined the ambitious German fourth division club RB Leipzig on a two-year contract after being released by Hearts.

The club are backed by the energy drinks company Red Bull, who plan to invest £80million and win the Bundesliga before 2020.

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