Eight defeats on the bounce would put any manager in deep trouble. Couple that with no wins all season, four months since the last one and sitting bottom of the league, then the writing was well and truly on the wall for Steven Naismith.
Hearts pulled the trigger on Sunday afternoon, confirming that Naismith, along with coaches Frankie McAvoy and Gordon Forrest have been axed – just weeks after being handed three-year deals following a goalless draw with Rangers on the opening day. That was to prove the highlight of Naismith’s season as the Jambos lurched from one defeat to the next.
He now won’t get the chance to lead the Gorgie Boys into their Europa Conference League campaign that starts at the beginning of next month. However, having meekly exited the Europa League at the playoff stage, then fans will argue that someone else deserves a crack on the continent.
The Tynecastle club will confirm the next steps in due course, although it’s almost certain that B team boss Liam Fox will step up and take the team for next Saturday’s home clash with Ross County at least.
Beyond then, Record Sport takes a look at who could be in the frame to fill Naismith’s shoes.
Derek McInnes
The name on many fans’ lips and after guiding Kilmarnock to Europe leas season with a no nonsense approach, you can see why. However, he seems to have suffered in a similar way to Naismith this term, just not as extremely. An impressive Conference League victory over Tromso came on the back of exiting the Europa League against Cercle Brugge, while Copenhagen proved too strong.
In the league however, Hearts are the only side with a worse record than Killie. They are also winless this season, have scored the same paltry number of goals and have conceded just one more, sitting a point better off in 11th place. There is at least the excuse of a European campaign running parallel to the league struggles, and McInnes could well see things improve with less games to juggle. But he;d be going into a hectic schedule with a Hearts side shorn of all confidence. His record with Aberdeen will likely appeal to Andrew McKinlay and Ann Budge, but he wouldn’t come cheap from Rugby Park and there’s the lingering suspicion that Rangers may make a move (again) should Philippe Clement not work out.
Alex Neil
This may have had more legs had former sporting director Joe Savage not quit in the summer. The pair worked together at Hamilton, Norwich City and Preston North End but that link is no longer there. Neill’s stock remains high north of the border, but is yet to resurface in a Premiership role despite plenty vacancies coming up.
Since leaving Deepdale, spells at Sunderland and Stoke City have been less than inspiring. However, Neill is available now after leaving the Potters last December and would bring experience that Naismith lacked. Might not be the hot ticket he was while at Hamilton, but fans wouldn’t exactly turn their noses up if he was the choice.
John McGlynn
Unlikely, but the former Tynecastle coach and boss has proved his worth at a lower level since leaving Hearts. Going unbeaten in any division is some going, and Naismith found out how effective McGlynn just last month as Falkirk dumped the Jambos out of the Premier Sports Cup.
Whether McGlynn has found a level he’s comfortable at and a top flight return in a new gig even appeals remains to be seen. Fans will likely demand a younger option than the 62-year-old, if not necessarily higher profile. So while on paper his record would merit a shot higher up the food chain, it might be a case of been there, done that as far as both parties are concerned.
Steven Schumacher
Another boss looking to bounce back after leaving Stoke City. After staring as Ryan Lowe’s assistant at Bury, he followed his fellow Scouser to Plymouth before taking the top job when Lowe departed for Preston in 2021. The Pilgrims just missed out on the League One playoffs in 2022 but the following year, Schumacher had them flying adn they won the title in style, securing promotion to the Championship.
Last December, he left Home Park for Stoke, and kept the Potters up. However, Schumacher was gone after just five games of the current season, suggesting all was not right. While the expectations would be far different at Tynecastle, the way in which he got Plymouth playing winning football could make him an option worth considering.
Robbie Neilson
Third time’s a charm? A good chunk of the fans wouldn’t be happy, especially given criticism of the club for failing to look beyond ex players or bosses, even beyond those already employed by the club. But Neilson;s record at the helm can’t be argued with.
Twice he was tasked with winning the Championship and twice he delivered. Third places after promotion duly followed and when he was sacked last April, Hearts were fourth and still in with a chance of catching Aberdeen, although the points gap that they allowed the Dons to close was a big one. A third spell may be a bit much for fans, club and Neilson himself though, who is probably perfectly happy with the lifestyle and relatively pressure free existence he’s currently living with Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Mike Tullberg
The Danish striker made next to no impression at Tynecastle as a player thanks to injury, but he’s forged a burgeoning reputation for himself as a coach. He’s been building his experience since retiring early, mostly as youth coach in Germany, working his way up the levels bar a spell as an assistant back in Denmark.
But there aren’t many better breeding grounds for coaches than Borussia Dortmund, where he is currently in charge of the Under 19s. Having previously taken charge of the reserves, many may see that as a step down, but the 19s gig is widely regarded to be a more prestigious role and shows Tullberg is on an upward trajectory. Would be a gamble, but no less so than Naismith, and a win over Hibs in the UEFA Youth League less than two years ago served as a well received reminder to Hearts fans that he’s earning his coaching stripes.
Kim Hellberg
If Aberdeen’s relentless start to the season under Jimmy Thelin has caught imaginations in the Tynecastle boardroom, then they may also look to Sweden for their next boss. It wouldn’t simply be jumping on the bandwagon either. As Record Sport exclusively revealed, Hearts interviewed then Hamarby boss Marti Cifuentes after Neilson was sacked and was the preferred candidate of some board members before Naismith got the nod.
His successor, Kim Hellberg, has sitting third in the Allsvenskan, nine points behind leaders and Rangers’ Europa League foes Malmo. Compensation would be required after he penned. athree-year deal last December, but at 36 would seem to fit the profile Hearts have gone for in recent seasons and would be a fresh face with fresh ideas.
Starlizard wildcard
This is where the name will most likely come from should a deal with Brighton owner Tony Bloom be rubber stamped. He is in talks with the Hearts hierarchy over a £10million investment and access to Bloom’s raved about Starlizard algorithm.
Brighton’s recruitment is held up as the player trading model for all clubs to follow after they have identified numerous players from all over the world and sold them on for massive profits. They can pick a manager too. After giving Graham Potter a chance, Roberto Di Zerbi was quickly brought in from Italy having flown under the admittedly insular Premier League radar.
When he left last season, in came Fabian Hurzeler over the summer and he’s made a fine start to life at the Amex, the 31-year-old joining from St Pauli in what has been a fairly seamless transition to the top level in England. It will be about numbers rather than names, which could be a good thing as far as fans are concerned with Bloom’s closely guarded technology at the forefront of the recruitment process.