Heart of Midlothian

Greg Playfair
Fan writer

To use the words of Ann Budge, Neil Critchley is "yesterday's news" and Jambos have discovered that diamonds are not forever.

The cacophony of boos was deafening at full-time at Tynecastle following the inevitable defeat to Dundee and Critchley was told by angry fans - I paraphrase - "Please leave our club".

In the end, the Hearts board had no option other than to relieve Critchley of his duties as our head coach.

As soon as the final whistle went in Motherwell and we failed to get into the top six, most Hearts fans knew deep down it was a question of when and not if the trigger was pulled.

I, along with every other Jambo, wished for Critchley to be a success but his appointment – seemingly as a cheaper option to first-choice candidate Per-Mathias Hogmo - coupled with his underwhelming managerial record in England, did ring early alarm bells.

Throughout his time in charge, you always got the vibe that he was a supply teacher in a high school, just taking the reins for the day.

The fact we are looking for our third permanent boss in seven months is an indictment of the Hearts hierarchy. The appointments in Budge's tenure have generally been poor, Robbie Neilson aside, and you can understand why ers are concerned about the recruitment process for our next leader.

This is where opinion starts to get split – do we go for an experienced head in Scottish football such as Stephen Robinson, John McGlynn or Derek McInnes?

Do we try to be data led and get an up-and-coming manager from the UK or Europe, who perhaps has been in charge of an unfashionable team? Or do we try to go for a marquee appointment?

It's a really difficult appointment, but we cannot take the cheap option. That's what we have ultimately done twice already with Steven Naismith and then Critchley.

Having been to the Netherlands in recent weeks and attended an FC Utrecht game, I'm of the opinion a Dutch manager would do well over here. If it was an ambitious appointment we were going for, I'd say someone like Mark Van Bommel, who took Royal Antwerp to a Belgian league and cup double in 2023.

Someone that may be more attainable is FC Volendam boss Rick Kruys, who has just won the Dutch second-tier title with a side punching above their weight. He might come up in the Star Lizard search given his impressive 2.19 points per match average and 4-3-3 formation, not too dissimilar to Hearts.

Back to the here and now, interim boss Liam Fox has the tough task of a trip to Dingwall to face Ross County in what is now a relegation six-pointer.

The pressure is on the players to show some character and prove to ers they have the mental resilience and technical ability to play for Hearts.

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Hearts striker James Wilson has been nominated for this season's PFA Scotland young player of the season award.

The 18-year-old has scored five goals in 20 Premiership appearances so far this term and made his national team debut for Scotland against Greece in March.

Wilson is nominated alongside Motherwell's Lennon Miller, Rangers' Hamza Igamane and Celtic's Arne Engels.

Watch the Sportscene team discuss the current situation at Hearts following Neil Critchley's exit as head coach.

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Former Hearts defender Ryan McGowan thinks Neil Critchley was dismissed as head coach due to fears about getting sucked into a relegation play-off.

The Tynecastle club parted ways with the Englishman on Saturday following a 1-0 defeat by Dundee in their first post-split game.

The result leaves Hearts five points clear of Ross County in 11th with four matches of the season to play.

"I was surprised," McGowan told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"I don't think he would have been there at the start of next season, but I was slightly surprised that they did decide to do it on Saturday night.

"I do think the club's slightly worried, after this weekend coming up, if results don't go their way, then it can really, really be tricky in of getting sucked into that play-off spot.

"For a club the size of Hearts, it shouldn't even be an issue in of getting sucked into that play-off spot. So I think that's why the club's acted."

Critchley took over from Steven Naismith back in October with the Edinburgh outfit bottom of the Premiership table.

Fans questioned Critchley's ability to win high-stakes matches and McGowan says that can be traced back as far as December when they exited the Conference League.

Hearts drew 2-2 with Moldovan minnows Petrocub, who were bottom of the competition table, a result which put them out of Europe on goals scored.

"The European campaign, going into the last game of that round to qualify against the worst team in that league and not coming away with a victory was the first sign of him not grasping the big games and being able to make his mark on the team," McGowan said.

"Albeit he came in and sort of steadied the ship, but I kind of believed whoever came in would have probably steadied the ship at that point.

"I just think too many times this season he's maybe changed the team and changed the personnel. I'm not even sure he knows who his best 11 is or what formation that would be, he's kind of stumbled across it throughout the season."

Former Hearts captain Steven Pressley would be willing to leave his role as Brentford's head of individual development to help his old club, who have dismissed head coach Neil Critchley, steer clear of relegation trouble. (Daily Record), external

Stephen Robinson would seem like an obvious and logical choice as the new Hearts head coach given his success with Scottish Premiership rivals St Mirren, but there are a number of other possible contenders. (The Scotsman), external

Falkirk manager John McGlynn is the bookmakers' favourite to be Hearts' new head coach, ahead of former Oxford United boss Des Buckingham and another former Tynecastle team boss, Robbie Neilson, who recently left Tampa Bay Rowdies. (The Herald), external

Former Hearts team bosses John McGlynn, currently with Falkirk, and Robbie Neilson are among seven names who could be candidates for the Tynecastle job after applying the kind of criteria Jamestown Analytics might use to choose a shortlist. (Daily Record), external

Hearts' partnership with Jamestown Analytics means that every head coach appointed is first scrutinised by its data system and, among the criteria candidates must adhere to, every team boss must be on board with using it for player recruitment or they will not get the job. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Jamestown Analytics will once again play a role in finding a new head coach, so there are likely to be names mentioned who are alien to many of the club's ers.

Prior to Neil Critchley's appointment, talks had broken down with former Norway boss Per-Mathias Hogmo, who is now at Molde.

One name Hearts fans will definitely know and is highly likely to be close to the top of their wish list is John McGlynn.

The 63-year-old has been in charge of the club before and is close to leading Falkirk back to the Scottish Premiership with consecutive promotions, even if they have stumbled in their past two matches.

McGlynn knows Hearts inside out and is keenly aware of what is required to be successful at Tynecastle. He will have his backers within the club without doubt.

Liam Fox, who took interim charge when Steven Naismith was dismissed in the autumn, will again take the helm but is unlikely to have enough or experience to be considered on a long-term basis.

Other notable names to be mentioned will be Kilmarnock's Derek McInnes and Stephen Robinson of St Mirren, who have been linked with the job in the past.

Regardless, whoever comes in will have to work with - and believe in - the use of analytics when it comes to recruitment, which could mean a left-field managerial appointment.

We asked for your views on Neil Critchley's sacking following Hearts' home defeat to Dundee.

Here's what some of you said:

Nick: It is the easy option to sack the manager but once in a while take a look at the players and weed out the non-achievers, also what about the director of football? They seem to always miss the bullets.

Alfred: The chief executive should bear the responsibility of appointing Steven Naismith and Neil Critchley and resign himself.

Robert: Just not good enough, so it's for the best he goes now and we try a complete rebuild.

David: Critchley was out his depth as much as the Hearts board are out their depth with regards to any football decisions. Changing the manager again doesn't deal with the core issue.

Steve: Failed to get us into the top six. Failed to get us to the cup final and dragging us into a relegation battle. Clueless. Correct decision.

Fraser: Hearts haven't been good enough for years. Another under-par manager in the spotlight. Huge loyal fanbase which has seen a very little return. Next appointment needs to be a huge name that's proven themselves in the game and has the ability to attract high performing players and bring some joy back to Hearts.

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• Hearts have failed to win in their last four games in the Premiership, their last longer winless streak was from 15 May 2024 to 6 October 2024, a run of 10 games.

• Simon Murray has scored 16 goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other Dundee player.

• Hearts attempted 624 es in this match, higher than their season average of 436.7 in the Premiership.

• Dundee have a record of W6, D0, L3 when leading at half time in the Premiership this season.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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When Neil Critchley was appointed in October, many Hearts fans had never heard of the former Liverpool youth coach.

Sure, he had managed Queens Park Rangers and Blackpool (on two separate occasions) but remained pretty much an unknown quantity.

Chief executive officer Andrew McKinlay refuted suggestions Critchley was the club's second choice because talks had broken down with former Norway boss Per-Mathias Hogmo.

And two wins in his first opening games appeared to show the Hearts board - or data partner Jamestown Analytics, who were heavily involved in the decision - had identified the right man.

However, just three victories against the Premiership's bottom two teams in the next 14 matches followed.

Included in this run was a wretched performance against Moldovan minnows Petrocub at Tynecastle when a victory would have ensured European football would continue after Christmas.

Other big-game setbacks came against Celtic, Rangers and local rivals Hibernian, who resurrected their season after a similar dismal start to their campaign.

Critchley wasn't helped by long-term injuries to key players, such as Frankie Kent, Stephen Kingsley and Craig Halkett. And when you add in the dip in form of striker Lawrence Shankland, the football gods were never really in his favour.

However, he will accept that football is a results industry and those results were simply not there for him.

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Former Hearts midfielder Michael Stewart thinks the club have "panicked" by sacking Neil Critchley after just six months as head coach.

The Tynecastle lost their first bottom-six game to Dundee after falling to Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup semi-final and although Stewart is "not surprised" by the decision to sack Critchley, who he said "was never a Hearts manager" he believes it leaves many questions needing asked of a club who "are trying to be too smart".

"The club have panicked," the pundit said on Sportscene. "They are clearly concerned about being dragged into the relegation play-off spot.

"I'm not surprised. I've got a great deal of sympathy for Neil Critchley. He's a nice guy and clearly knows a lot about football, but he was never a Hearts manager.

"That's a bigger issue for me - who's making these appointments? Critchley was the seventh appointment since Ann Budge took the club out of istration and the track record has not been great.

"With this one, the board basically absolved themselves of any responsibility for it and handed the decision over the Jamestown Analytics. When Neil Critchley's name was mooted, I don't think a single person associated with Hearts thought 'oh, that's a good appointment'. You cannot just take a step back and give full responsibility to someone else.

"Jamestown Analytics was heralded as the tool that could have Hearts challenge for the title but they've not been able to get a manager who could last a season and that undermines it. Look at some of the gs they've made, yes they made some good gs in January, but they spend £400,000 on Sander Kartum, who's not the kind of player they needed. And because of additions like that, Critchley has ended up losing his job.

"I don't think it's rocket science. Far too often, it feels like they are trying to be too smart and do things differently rather than just doing football things properly. Hearts are arguably the third biggest club in the country and should be there challenging every season. But they're bottom six and not maximising what they've got."

Hearts fans, we want to hear from you in the aftermath of Neil Critchley’s sacking after just six months.

Let us know how you’re feeling about things here.

Dundee boost their Scottish Premiership survival hopes with a slender but deserved victory as Hearts are jeered from the pitch by a furious home .

Simon Murray's goal, his 21st of the season, pushes Dundee up to 10th in the division and two points clear of Ross County, who lost at Kilmarnock.

Neil Critchley's side are now goalless in their past four league games and slip to eighth in the league, just five points above County.

What did you make of that, Hearts fans? How do you feel about Neil Critchley's tenure?

Did anyone impress? Where was the game lost?

Let us know your thoughts here.

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Hearts head coach Neil Critchley told BBC Scotland: "It's been a tough day, obviously. We didn't do enough. We had total control of the game. The longer it went on... we played too safe, lacked belief in what we were doing, lacked quality.

"We had some chances to score, but don't score the first goal. They then put everyone behind the ball and that makes it doubly difficult for us. That's been the story of the last few weeks, little things not going for us. That's on us, we need to change that very quickly.

"That's football for you. We must respond to this. We're in a fight and we have to show the right level of fight. I don't think it was lack of effort today. From the halfway line, we lacked quality in our decision making.

"We have to stick together, we've got four games to go. It's important the players show the fight and commitment that will get us out of this situation. We need to show more quality and intelligence.

"I understand the frustration when we don't score at home and get beat. I'm comfortable with [the expectation]. I believe that I'm the man to get us out of this situation and move the club forward in the future.

"Emotions are running high, I just have to focus on the here and now, the players, and making sure we're ready for Ross County next week."

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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If any Hearts fans had forgotten the relegation fears of earlier in the season, they were rudely reminded this afternoon.

While their side dominated possession, it was always Dundee who wanted it more.

Some would argue that was surprising, given the fight that Hearts showed at Hampden just seven days ago. That same courage was not apparent today.

The only creativity came from left-back James Penrice - who was too often forced to stay back, given the lack of protection in front of him.

Kabangu's form, similar to teammate Lawrence Shankland who was missing through injury, has nosedived and the striker should have had a far bigger impact on the scoreline.

The lack of wide options, or quality in wide areas, has been badly exposed and Critchley seemingly does not have the answers.

Blair Spittal and Sander Kartum, deployed wide of Jorge Grant today, are both more suited to central roles. The only proper wide option on the bench, Alan Forrest, isn't fancied.

Critchley inherited an imbalanced squad. Instead of addressing that in January, he tipped the scales further.

Hearts head coach Neil Critchley wants answers regarding soon to be out of contract players Craig Gordon and Lawrence Shankland by the end of the season. (Record), external

Stephen Kingsley its Hearts have not been good enough this season. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

Read Saturday's Scottish gossip

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Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland is a doubt after going off with muscle tightness in the Scottish Cup semi-final defeat by Aberdeen.

Michael Steinwender and Cammy Devlin are both available despite being sent off in that match as their suspensions are competition-specific, but James Wilson is still suspended. Gerald Taylor (knee) and Aidan Denholm (hamstring) remain out.

Dundee have doubts over Ziyad Larkeche, Lyall Cameron, Charlie Reilly, Jordan McGhee and Oluwaseun Adewumi, but hope most if not all of the players will make the game.

Scott Fraser is pushing for a comeback after groin trouble.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Hearts head coach Neil Critchley says his side need to show "resilience" in the last five games of the Premiership season to prove they have it in them to be a success at the club.

Last weekend's Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Aberdeen compounded a disappointing league season that has resulted in a bottom-half finish.

Critchley says the team have to finish on a high of sorts, starting against Dundee on Saturday, in order to replay the club's ers who have stuck by the squad this season.

"It's on us to show the right level of commitment, the right level of fight, to make sure that we apply ourselves properly, like we did last week in the semi-final," Critchley said.

"That level of commitment needs to be there now between now and the end of the season because disappointment is part and parcel of football. Unless you're very fortunate, there'll be plenty more downs than there are ups.

"Resilience is a key characteristic of any player or head coach and you have to overcome disappointment. That process has started this week. It'll continue tomorrow and we have five games and 15 points to play for."

Dundee occupy the relegation play-off spot and are six points behind seventh-place Hearts. Critchley says there is no fear at Tynecastle over a potential relegation battle.

"We're just thinking about winning the next game," he said. "We know that everyone's going to be fighting for their lives.

"Dundee will be no different. We need to make sure that we're there, ready to play the game that we can play. The results or the outcomes of some of the games recently we don't believe have gone our way.

"You have to accept that. We want that winning feeling back."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Neil Critchley has been speaking to the media before Hearts face Dundee in the Premiership this weekend.

Here are the key points from the Tynecastle boss:

• On a "tough few days" after the Scottish Cup semi-final defeat: "I think you need time to process that type of game and how it ended. But then you have to gradually move forward and turn the disappointment into motivation. And that motivation has to become your energy, which I've seen within the group."

• Critchley says Hearts need to show "resilience" in their final five games of this season to prove this group can be successful in the future.

• The Englishman fully s the club statement regarding an "accumulation" of decisions the club perceive to have gone against them in recent matches. He confirms there has been dialogue between the club and the Scottish FA.

• Despite that, he insists there is no "blame culture" at the club and says they alone are responsible for failures in both the league and Scottish Cup.

• After missing out on European football, Critchley says is no change to the plans as they try to "keep improving the squad and the club".

• There has been no talk of being dragged into a relegation battle with the next game against Dundee being the full focus.

• Lawrence Shankland has trained but will be assessed before the game after struggling with tightness in his hamstring.

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• Hearts have won their past three Scottish Premiership home games against Dundee, last winning more in a row on home soil against them in the top fight from September 1999 to November 2001 (six).

• Dundee have lost five of their past six league meetings with Hearts, winning the other 3-1 in August this season.

• Hearts have failed to score in their past three league games despite attempting 34 shots (11 on target) worth 3.35 expected goals. Hearts last went four without scoring in the Scottish Premiership in November 2018.

• Only Kilmarnock have kept fewer clean sheets (0) and conceded more goals (41) away from home in the Scottish Premiership this season than Dundee (one clean sheet, 35 goals conceded), who have shipped 2+ goals in each of their last five on the road (17 in total).

• Dundee's games in the Scottish Premiership this season have seen more goals (121 – 50 for, 71 against) than any other side, while only Dundee United's (81) have had fewer than Hearts' (87 – 43 for, 44 against).