BBC NEWS: Gareth Ainsworth to Hearts: what the former QPR manager has stated as Liam Fox and John McGlynn examine.
Hearts are still looking for a new manager, with the former QPR and Wycombe Wanderers manager among the main candidates.
Heart of Midlothian is seeking a successor for Steven Naismith and former QPR coach Gareth Ainsworth is a top candidate.
Naismith was fired by the club on September 23 following an eight-game losing streak, with Liam Fox appointed as interim manager. It is believed that Hearts will finalize an appointment during the international break.
QPR fired Ainsworth in October 2023, leaving him unemployed. The former Wycombe Wanderers player has been connected with a number of possibilities since leaving Loftus Road, but he is said to be waiting for the perfect one.
What did Gareth Ainsworth say about the Hearts job?
Ainsworth took the rare step of announcing his candidacy for the Hearts post publicly last month. In an interview with the Daily Record, the manager expressed interest in the ‘enticing’ position at Tynecastle.
He stated, “Football has to be about having a sense of belonging, and I look at Hearts now and think it’s a club that is a little lost.” The size of the club and its history are also significant elements in what seems to be about Hearts.
“Looking at all of that and then having a peek of what has and can be accomplished with their qualification for Europe a few years ago, you see a club that is now screaming out for an identity, and I want to bring it back in droves. Looking back at the administration era and the progress made since then, they need to reclaim their identity as Scotland’s third largest club.
“For Hearts, winning the league means finishing third, and that’s what I want to do not once in a decade, but on a consistent basis. I want to bring people with me; it’s a club that players have exploited as a stepping stone for far too long.
“I don’t want that; I want to attract players to Hearts who are certain they will achieve great things; that is the message I want to send to the supporters, and I intend to back it up with results. Being happy to be a part of something where everyone at Hearts, including the club, players, and supporters, works together to achieve something is what draws me to Hearts.”
Hearts to utilize the Brighton recruitment methodology.
Hearts are anticipated to choose their next manager using a recruitment strategy similar to that employed by Premier League team Brighton. In recent years, the south coast club has developed a reputation for identifying the ideal individual.
Over the last five years, Graham Potter, Roberto De Zerbi, and now Fabian Hurzeler have guided the Seagulls to success. Hearts are thought to have formed a sub-group inside the club consisting of board members and executive personnel to oversee the manager search.
Jamestown Analytics, owned by Brighton’s Tony Bloom, is also expected to be used. Bloom is close to reaching an agreement with Hearts.
At the beginning of September, there were reports about Bloom’s prospective £10 million investment in the club.According to Sky Sports, the idea involves Hearts partnering with Bloom’s analytics business for talent identification and recruiting.
Liam Fox and John McGlynn are running.
With his public statements, it’s no surprise that Ainsworth remains a strong favourite for the Hearts post, although the former QPR coach is up against stiff opposition.
Liam Fox was appointed temporary manager in September, moving up from the club’s B squad. Since then, Edinburgh has drawn with Ross County and defeated Dinamo Mink in the Europa Conference League, before falling to Aberdeen on Sunday. The 40-year-old has steadied the ship after taking charge after the team had lost their previous eight games.
As a result, Fox is now the leading candidate for the permanent position. When questioned about the next several weeks on Sunday, the interim manager said: “I have no clue until someone from the club tells me otherwise, but until then, I’ll be back at work tomorrow.
“We also have the international break now, which will probably give the club some time to go through the process, which I’m sure they’re already doing. It’s been an honor and an honour for me to take on this responsibility, and even in the short term, I’m unhappy that we didn’t get anything out of today.”
John McGlynn, Falkirk manager, is also in the running. The former Hearts manager guided Falkirk to promotion from League One to the Scottish Championship last season, staying unbeaten throughout and won the players’ Manager of the Year title.
When queried about the position, McGlynn replied, “I’m content here [at Falkirk] right now. The guys are doing great, and I’m enjoying working here right now.”
Read more on sportupdates.co.uk
Leave a Reply