Stuart Bathgate: Sergio's honeymoon period won't last long

THE honeymoon period enjoyed by new managers just keeps getting shorter. If you think Ally McCoist had it tough, spare a thought for Paulo Sergio.

The heat started getting turned up on the Rangers manager after he had been in charge for just a couple of games. Sergio has not had any less time - yesterday's defeat for Hearts at Fir Park was his second match in charge following the Europa League win over Paksi - but circumstances have made it tougher for the former Sporting Lisbon boss. McCoist, of course, had a spell as Walter Smith's assistant in which to come to terms with the size of the job and the qualities or demerits of the playing squad. He was also able to identify his transfer targets over the summer, even if he has not always been successful in acquiring them.

Sergio, by contrast, knew little about Hearts before agreeing to take over from Jim Jefferies. And he has not only taken charge of a team which faded badly in the latter months of last season, he has also inherited his predecessor's close-season signings.

He got off to a flier with the 4-1 win over Paksi, and impressed with the speed and intelligence he had shown in sizing up the situation at Hearts. He insisted after that game that there was a lot of hard work to do, and the loss at Motherwell will have given him a more accurate idea of the scale of his task. Hearts have not become a bad side overnight, or even over the course of the past six months, but Sergio probably has some considerable rebuilding to do before they are back to the team they were last November and December.

He has been given a one-year contract with the option of another year's extension, and he has been told by the club that his aim must be to win the league. That's the kind of acute pressure which even McCoist may escape this season at least.