Marti Cifuentes holds Hearts manager talks but Steven Naismith remains frontrunner - when is appointment likely?

Steven Naimsith remains the frontrunner for Hearts’ vacant managerial post but club chiefs have met with other candidates, including Marti Cifuentes, the current boss of Swedish side Hammarby.

Naismith, who served as interim manager for the last seven games of the season, following Robbie Neilson’s departure, is on a week-long family holiday and is scheduled to meet the board when he returns. He has started planning for next season and has been part of the discussions regarding summer signings, but the Tynecastle hierarchy have been keen to explore all options and have met other candidates as they try to identify the best person for the job.

The new manager will be tasked with taking the club back into Europe via the qualifiers, as well as competing for the domestic cups and third place in the Premiership.

It is understood that, having met with 40 -year-old Cifuentes, there are members of the board who were impressed.

Steven Naismith remains the frontrunner to become the permanent Hearts manager despite the club holding talks with Marti Cifuentes. (Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group)

Previously linked with the Aberdeen job ahead of Barry Robson being appointed, the coach who was formerly part of the academy set-up at Millwall, Ajax and AIK, before coaching in the Spanish lower leagues and Norway, led Hammarby to third place in the Swedish Allsvenskan in his first season in charge but he is struggling this term, having banked just 12 points in 11 games, and is sitting 11th in the table.

Although talks with the Spaniard gave the board pause for thought, it is understood that the majority are still leaning towards giving Naismith the job.

The 36-year-old former Hearts attacker, knows the club and his bosses liked the way he has handled being B team manager and way he has approached the interim role after he stepped up to fill the void left by Neilson. They are also cognisant of the opinion of players and fans, who have got behind the coach, who is also part of Scotland gaffer Steve Clarke’s backroom staff, and registered their approval after he rallied a squad that was low in confidence and dropping down the league standings, and saw off a late bid by capital rivals Hibs to usurp them in fourth.