Hearts to make official approach for Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes

Hearts will make an official approach to Kilmarnock in the next 24 hours to speak to Derek McInnes over the vacant head coach position at Tynecastle.

After Neil Critchley was sacked last month, the Kilmarnock manager has been identified as the club’s number one target.

The move for McInnes will come after Killie secured their Premiership status for next season, following their win over Dundee on Saturday.

Former St Johnstone, Bristol City and Aberdeen boss McInnes was appointed Killie manager in January 2022.

That year, he secured the club’s promotion from the Championship to the top flight.

Last season, McInnes guided the Rugby Park side to fourth spot, with Kilmarnock qualifying for Europe for the first time since 2011.

Hearts are looking for a head coach who will bring stability as well as on-field success after a tumultuous season. Steven Naismith was sacked in September with the club sitting at the bottom of the Premiership, and Critchley was shown the exit door after the club failed to make the top six.

Sporting director Graeme Jones was tasked with putting together a shortlist of candidates for the board, after working with Tony Bloom’s working closely with Jamestown Analytics to aid with the appointment.

Understanding and buying-in to the use of the Jamestown’s analytics tool will be a key requirement for any prospective new boss, with Bloom’s £10m investment in the club to be put to a fans’ vote, but experience in Scottish football is also seen to be a valuable asset.

McInnes, who won the League Cup with Aberdeen in 2014, would bring that experience if appointed.

The 53-year-old was askedabout links with the Tynecastle job after Kiolmarnock’s 3-2 win over Dundee that secured their Premiership status and said there had been no contact “from club to club”.

“I’ve heard speculation as much as you,” he said.

“But anybody who knows me knows how much I’ve got a brilliant relationship with the club and Billy Bowie (majority shareholder), and I’m sure that if there had been contact, Billy would have told me, and there’s been no conversation club to club.

“You can never, ever as a manager or player stop speculation.

“So I’m well aware of it. I’m well aware of the chatter and a lot of people have come up to me.

“But I speak to Billy and the club regularly, nobody has said there’s been any contact.

“I’m just delighted we’ve managed to get a real highlight today.

“I loved seeing how the players responded to the supporters. It was bathing in sunshine out there.

“We’ve put the fans through the wringer a wee bit in the last few weeks, but you could see the relief clearly from the stands.

“I think there was also a bit of pride in the performance as well.

“We got three goals and we could have scored more and it was a good day for us and we needed a day like that today.”