Neil Critchley has say on Liam Fox's Hearts future and coaching team plans

New Hearts boss Neil Critchley plans to keep Liam Fox involved in his coaching staff after holding the Tynecastle fort on an interim basis.

Fox took charge of three Hearts matches - including a 2-1 victory over Dinamo Minsk - in the wake of Steven Naismith’s sacking and while Critchley’s trusted No 2 Mike Garrity has joined him in Edinburgh, the 45-year-old Englishman plans to find a place for Fox, who was the Hearts B team boss at the start of the season.

“I've got Mike Garrity in with me,” Critchley said of his coaching team set-up. “Liam Fox has been with me. I've been speaking to him a lot, so he's with us on the training ground and he'll stay with us in the immediate future.

Neil Critchley's first match in charge of Hearts will come against St Mirren on Saturday. | SNS Group

“Credit to him and his staff for the interim period. I watched those games and thought they could have easily got something at Aberdeen, had a good win in Europe, to come from behind, I know it was late on against Ross County, but arguably could have won that game as well.

“Also, Steven [Naismith] did a fantastic job last season with his staff, and sometimes these things happen unfortunately, and it's a fresh start for me now and I've got to try and come in and get the team moving in the right direction again.”

Critchley was asked whether he has an exact number of assistants in mind at Hearts. His predecessor Naismith was supported by Gordon Forrest and Frankie McAvoy, plus goalkeeping coach Paul Gallacher, although Forrest and McAvoy have since left the club.

“No, not specific,” said the ex-Blackpool and QPR boss. “I think we have to look at the model that we want to maybe develop moving forward, and that'll be discussions that I have with Graeme [Jones, sporting director] as well, when he's in post, but there's not a specific number.”

Liam Fox has been in caretaker charge of the Jambos. | SNS Group

Critchley is excited about the glut of fixtures facing him for the rest of the month - including an Edinburgh derby - but was keen to stress the importance of Saturday’s Premiership clash with St Mirren. Hearts remain winless and bottom of the league after eight games.

“When I looked at the fixture list and saw how congested it is, how busy it is, but also the games we've got and how exciting it is, it's game on, I can't wait,” Critchley added. “But our immediate aim is, it's a cliche, you only take one game at a time, it's fully on St Mirren this weekend.”