Korobochka and Frail are Hearts coaching duo

HEARTS have ended months of speculation over their managerial structure by appointing Anatoli Korobochka and Stephen Frail as the club's permanent coaching team.

Majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov has confirmed the pairing, allowing both men to continue in the roles they performed towards the end of last season. Korobochka took over coaching responsibilities back in March, assisted by Frail, whilst retaining the official title of sporting director.

As first revealed in the Evening News, FBK Kaunas coach Angel Chervenkov will assume a position on the coaching staff at Riccarton to assist Korobochka and Frail during the forthcoming season. The Bulgarian will also be responsible for Hearts' reserve side and is expected to arrive in Edinburgh by the end of the week after observing the club's pre-season preparations in Austria.

The appointments are likely to meet with widespread approval as supporters and players alike crave stability at Tynecastle. Weekend discussions between all parties ended favourably and Korobochka and Frail are now preparing the squad for the season-opening Edinburgh derby against Hibs next Monday.

Romanov said today: "We will be working with the same team as it is now plus there will be an assistant Angel Chervenkov, the Bulgarian. He will be in charge of the reserve team. I wish we could only be in charge of football questions," he added. "We have to deal with problems when players are being taken away and these are not direct football issues. Anatoli had to deal with these issues.

"That is what I want [them] to deal with - just football, rather than problems created for us."

Furthermore, the much-maligned Eduard Malofeev will not have an active role at Hearts this season unless his input is directly requested by the coaching staff.

The club announced the appointments through their official website this morning. Korobochka, 52, will continue to perform his duties as sporting director, allowing Frail to work closely with the players on the training field.

The pair were in charge together for the final ten games of last season and recorded five victories, one draw and four defeats. Assessing their performance to date, Romanov said: "On a scale of one to five, I would probably say three.

"I don't think we will need Malofeev this season but if the guys tell me different he will appear."