Craig Levein sacked as Hearts boss

He's also stepping down from the board

Published 31st Oct 2019

Hearts have sacked manager Craig Levein.

He leaves with the club second from bottom in the Scottish Premiership, with just one win from 11 matches.

Levein also won't be returning to his previous role as director of football, but will stay with Hearts until the end of the season to work on their backroom and youth structure.

Austin MacPhee has been put in temporary charge.

The club posted a statement on its website: "The Board of Directors of Heart of Midlothian Football Club has today taken the decision to relieve Craig Levein of his first team managerial duties.

"The Board would like to thank Craig for all of his efforts as first team manager. Craig has worked tirelessly and selflessly, around the clock, to try to achieve success, despite the many challenges with which he has been faced.

"Craig will not return to his previous Director of Football role and, that being so, will step down from the Board. He will, however, see out his contract, which runs until the end of the season, working closely with the Executive Management Team in continuing to develop and improve the structure of the backroom and youth operations within the development.

"We are confident that his knowledge and experience will contribute massively to ensuring that, come the end of the season, he will leave the football department in a healthy and thriving state.

"Effective immediately, Austin MacPhee will be in charge of first team affairs, on an interim basis, while the Board begins the process of recruiting a new manager. The new manager, and indeed the interim manager, will report directly to the Chief Executive.'