Michael Stewart has called on Hearts to have a conversation with Derek McInnes about the current vacancy at Tynecastle and admits that the club’s current position could put potential targets from further afield off coming to the capital.
The Jambos are in the market for a new manager after parting company with Steven Naismith on Sunday following an eighth straight defeat in all competitions to St Mirren 24 hours earlier. B team boss Liam Fox has stepped up to the hot seat on an interim basis while Gorgie chiefs assess their next move, and one man who has been linked with the post is Kilmarnock gaffer McInnes.
The 53-year-old took Killie into Europe with a fourth place finish in the Premiership last season and previously enjoyed a sustained spell of success during his eight years in charge of Aberdeen between 2013 and 2021. Former Jambos midfielder Stewart says it is an absolute ‘stick on’ that Hearts make an approach for McInnes but also threw in two names from the Swedish top division that he concedes might need some convincing to make the move to Scotland.
Speaking on the Premier Sports’ Scottish Football Social Club, he said: “For me, I think Hearts need stability right now. It’s not to say I wouldn’t be looking abroad, because I think you’ve got to cast the net far and wide.
“Perhaps the likes of Knutsen at Bodo/Glimt if you are thinking something like Jimmy Thelin at Aberdeen, or even Rydstrom at Malmo. These are guys that are doing very well but they would cost. You would have to spend a bit of money and they might not be wanting to come.
“Then, for me, an absolute stick on that has to be spoken to is Derek McInnes. The guy is the most successful outside of Rangers and Scotland. The most experienced as well. And if Tony Bloom is going to be coming to Hearts with a little bit of extra investment and a network that can be tapped into, I think it something Derek McInnes would look at.
“Because, with the greatest respect to Kilmarnock, how much further is he going to be able to take them? With Hearts and the potential to push them on, I think it is something he may well look to and consider.”
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