Michael Stewart calls for clarity at Hearts over Craig Levein

Former captain Michael Stewart has called on Hearts to explain their management structure to fans after director of football Craig Levein was spotted passing messages to head coach Ian Cathro in the 2-0 defeat by Aberdeen.

Hearts director of football Craig Levein passed messages to head coach Ian Cathro, centre, at Pittodrie. Picture: SNS.

Levein was also seen entering the visitors’ dressing room at half-time at Pittodrie on Saturday and, although Cathro later described that as “completely normal”, Stewart believes there will be a great deal of uncertainty amongst the Tynecastle players.

“It’s wise to utilise that vantage point from the stand, I don’t have a problem with that,” Stewart said on Sportscene when viewing footage of coach Jon Daly going between the stand and the dugout with messages from Levein. But he added: “For me, the changing room thing is the real issue.

“Another senior figure in the changing room creates confusion. As a player you’re wondering ‘who’s making the decisions, who’s giving us direction here?’... you’re wondering ‘what’s going on?’.

“The director of football role is not normal in Scottish football so the difference in what Craig Levein is doing and what Ian Cathro is doing needs to be explained. There needs to be a bit more transparency.”