Peter Houston thought he would be Hearts boss

The former Dundee United boss claims that Hearts director Sergejus Fedotovas contacted him about taking over the reins following the departure of John McGlynn last month.

He was told that he was the only candidate the club were speaking to and believed a deal was all but done, only to be disappointed on Saturday when Hearts announced that Gary Locke was their new manager.

Houston said: “I was confident. There was an offer made.

“Everything was subject to board approval, the board  approval went with Gary.”

Locke was installed as Hearts manager on the eve of the Scottish Communities League Cup final against St Mirren last weekend, on a contract until the end of next season. Houston says that the deal he was on the verge of agreeing would have seen him stay at Tynecastle for a further season.

He insists, however, that, if he had been given the job, he would have been keen to keep Locke at the club as his assistant. “What we’d put in the heads of terms was the end of this season plus two,” said Houston. “Hearts seemed happy with that and I’d heard that Sergejus Fedotovas was happy with that.

“It was maybe me and Gary, if there was a shortlist,” he said. “If I’d got the job I would have kept Gary as first-team coach. I like him as a person and I think he’s developed into a very good coach.”

Houston added: “My agent spoke to Mr Fedotovas and that evening I had an email with

regard to heads of terms, and that was to get sorted out

Monday or Tuesday.

“I never heard anything Monday or Tuesday. It certainly wasn’t a financial thing that was going to stop it.”