Hearts have sacked their supervisor Robbie Neilson after virtually 3 years in fee, following the 2-0 house defeat in opposition to St Mirren on Saturday.
The 42-year-old got here below complaint from supporters at Tynecastle on Saturday as his facet slumped to a 5th consecutive defeat in all competitions. The setback took Hearts all the way down to fourth position within the Scottish Premiership, with Aberdeen shifting as much as 3rd.
A membership commentary launched on Sunday learn: “Heart of Midlothian Football Club can confirm that it has parted company with manager Robbie Neilson.
“Robbie has been a key part of the club’s ascent back to the upper echelons of Scottish football, delivering another Championship title, a third-place finish, two Scottish Cup finals and European group-stage football in the process.
“This was an extremely difficult decision to reach, and we would like to thank Robbie for all of his efforts. A full statement from the board of directors will be released in due course. No further comment will be made today.
Last week, the Hearts ownership group, Foundation of Hearts, had condemned graffiti outside Tynecastle targeting Neilson as “a pathetic act of vandalism”.
After making 200 appearances for Hearts as a player, helping the club to win the 2006 Scottish Cup, Neilson first became the Jambos’ head coach in 2014, departing for MK Dons in 2016. He returned in the summer of 2020 after securing promotion to the Top flight with Dundee United, repeating the trick with Hearts in the 2020-21 campaign.
A third-placed finish last season, coupled with a Scottish Cup final defeat by Rangers, led to Hearts securing an extended run in Europe in the Conference League group stage. They looked odds-on to repeat that league result when they thrashed Aberdeen 5–0 in January to move seven points clear in third and nine ahead of the Dons.
But their season began to unravel with defeats against Motherwell, Celtic, Aberdeen, Kilmarnock and St Mirren in their last six league games, as well as a 3–0 home defeat in the Scottish Cup against the Hoops.
Neilson expressed belief he could turn their form around immediately after the defeat on Saturday against the Buddies. “I’ve done it before and it’s part of being a manager,” he said. “You’re not going to win every single game and we’re going through this difficult period, but we have to continue to believe in what we’re doing.”
Steven Naismith has been answerable for the membership’s B workforce within the Lowland League this season and the previous Scotland striker may just probably be concerned with the primary workforce on an period in-between foundation for the general seven suits of the season.
Late winner boosts Tangerines’ survival hopes
Jamie McGrath scored a last-minute penalty as Dundee United beat Hibernian 2–1, the Premiership’s backside facet incomes a primary victory in 12 suits.
Jim Goodwin’s facet appeared set to pay for neglected possibilities till Will Fish’s clumsy problem on Steven Fletcher allowed McGrath the danger to protected victory. Fletcher had given United an early lead in opposition to his former membership, however exchange Mykola Kuharevich equalized within the seventieth minute.
United are again to 2 issues at the back of Ross County – who gained 2-0 at St Johnstone on Saturday – and simply 3 at the back of Kilmarnock within the struggle to steer clear of relegation.
“We had to go and win the game because the gap was getting too big,” Goodwin stated in a while.
“Hopefully that will show the teams above that this group of players are not done yet,” the chief added after securing a primary win of his tenure. “There continues to be numerous combat left in them and numerous soccer to be performed. We’ll be up for the struggle.