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Hearts confirm interim boss Gary Locke as new manager

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments34

Hearts manager Gary Locke

Hearts have appointed Gary Locke as the club's new manager following three matches as interim boss.

Locke, who has been on the coaching staff since 2010, last month.

And the 37-year-old has the chance to land a trophy on Sunday as Hearts take on St Mirren in the League Cup final.

"It has certainly come as a bit of a surprise," said Locke. "Hopefully we can finish the week on an ultimate high by bringing a cup back to Tynecastle."

Former Dundee United boss and - both former Hearts employees - had both been linked with the role.

But director Sergejus Fedotovas told the club's website: "It was Gary Locke who scored more points among the board members."

Having served Hearts as a player, former Kilmarnock midfielder Locke returned to the Edinburgh outfit as part of Jim Jefferies' backroom staff.

He continued in the coach's role under Paulo Sergio and McGlynn and was promoted to oversee the first team for the defeat by Motherwell on 2 March.

His first win as manager came against St Johnstone three days later and a draw with Hibernian followed.

"John McGlynn has played a huge part in getting us to the final and for me to lead them out is a wee bit embarrassing but I'm delighted to get my future sorted out," added Locke on Hearts TV.

"I'm really looking forward to the cup final and the only thing on my mind now is to try to get the team to win.

"I think it was just important to get a bit of stability

"We have got to try to finish the season as well as we can and look towards rebuilding for next season as well.

"I'm really delighted. The opportunity has come a wee bit earlier than expected but I certainly aim to take it with both hands."

Edgaras Jankauskas and Darren Murray will assist Locke.

"I believe that it is right that Gary, Edgaras and Darren continue to be given an opportunity to build on the work they have begun," explained Fedotovas.

"Gary clearly has the same desire as a coach that he showed as a player for the club and with the support of Edgaras, Darren and the players has has an opportunity to deliver success to the club.

"Our decision provides certainty to everyone through to the end of next season and reinforces the focus we all have in trying to achieve a special chapter in the history of this club on Sunday."

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34 comments

  • Comment posted by User0565169171, at 15:46 16 Mar 2013

    It's good to see a former player and coach being given the opportunity of the top job. Best of luck to him and Hearts for the rest of the season, it's good to see he's been given a chance. From a MCFC fan.

  • Comment posted by User0375093494, at 15:55 16 Mar 2013

    A poisoned chalice if ever there was one. Mad Vlad will be even more ruthless (or madder) now that he's skint

  • Comment posted by User0693070224, at 20:34 16 Mar 2013

    16 what glory have u hobos had, 5-1 was glorious

  • Comment posted by Williebraveheart, at 18:10 16 Mar 2013

    The first sensible decision to come out of Tynecastle for years. I wish him all the best.

  • Comment posted by BigSean73, at 09:47 17 Mar 2013

    Surprise? No surprise here. Gary Locke is a Hearts man through and through and deserves the job. But there was no chance whatsoever of Hearts appointing anyone else as they'd have to stump up some cash (which we don't have). McGlynn was sacked mainly to save paying out another wage. Gary Locke was always going to get the job and I think he'll do well and good luck to him. He'll need it.

  • Comment posted by Neil Christie, at 14:37 16 Mar 2013

    Thought at first it said the contract was until the end of this season and was thinking he'd do well to last that long at the Jambos, any longer will just be jam & gravy.

  • Comment posted by McG , at 07:59 17 Mar 2013

    Bigots can put comments on here about Mickey Mouse religious beliefs and slag our city.....however my reply which had no swear words was censored! Typical BBC. This probably won't be allowed either!

  • Comment posted by bobf, at 17:16 16 Mar 2013

    Good luck to him am sure he will win another cup tomorrow to sit beside the other one.

  • Comment posted by User0276345414, at 21:27 16 Mar 2013

    Hope captain webbie is holding the cup aloft tomorrow infront of 30.000 jambos and its 4 cups in 15 years with no EBT's ;) come on da jambos :)

  • Comment posted by User0435259100, at 17:05 17 Mar 2013

    So who the hertz fans fancy as lockes replacement in June? Good job to get, couple of months work then sacked and the rest of the contract paid out. Nice work if you can get it

  • Comment posted by wilsalista, at 15:52 16 Mar 2013

    Gary suffered a major setback in a Scottish Cup Final when he was a player, I just hope he excells along with Heart of Midlothian FC tomorrow to put that ghost behind him.
    My heart will be with the jambos tomorrow kicking every ball

  • Comment posted by User0694463077, at 19:27 16 Mar 2013

    @16


    Big team big cup wee team wee cup

  • Comment posted by User0367114304, at 17:51 16 Mar 2013

    Good appointment . . Hope he does a gr8 job.

    As a Celtic fan, I hope Hearts win tomo as they deserve a pick me up, after another season dominated by the trials & tribulations of Vlad the Mad. Time Hearts were back in the ownership of proper people with the clubs best intrests at heart.

  • Comment posted by FridayYodel, at 12:51 16 Mar 2013

    Good luck to Gary Locke, although more than any other candidate he knows what he is letting himself in for. His loyalty to the club means he deserves a shot at managing the club, and I'm sure his appointment will be popular with most people connected to the club. Can't help but wonder if it was an economic decision rather than a footballing one.

  • Comment posted by User0934024492, at 13:03 17 Mar 2013

    Delighted for Gary Locke. He's gone for a winning team since taking up the post on an interim basis. John McGlynn was blooding the young lads for the future but it's important that Hearts get points and Gary's attitude has assured that. It will be great to cap that off today when we win the cup!

  • Comment posted by obua, at 13:28 16 Mar 2013

    Surprised it is until 2014. Maybe it's the same contract with an opportunity for some managerial experience? I was a bit depressed about what seemed like the inevitable appointment of Peter Houston so this is refreshing even if it is what you might call the "thrifty" appointment.

  • Comment posted by User0254371093, at 08:08 17 Mar 2013

    No wonder Scottish football is in a state. Never mind any damage Romanov has done to Hearts, seems many of our own (Scots) like to stick the knife in every time any Scottish club hits hard times or changes managers. We don't need a Lithuanian to cause problems, we're pretty good at it ourself.

  • Comment posted by Football_understand, at 16:57 16 Mar 2013

    lol whats this the 16th manager since romanov? absolute disgrace

  • Comment posted by User0269880981, at 14:55 16 Mar 2013

    Not sure how i fell about this, i mean gary get can the most out of the players but i don't he is a tactician.

  • Comment posted by Giant Jambo, at 16:37 16 Mar 2013

    Makes sense - saves money, too. Maybe Peter Houston wanted his own assistant, Locke would have have had to go then.

    Of course St Mirren are favourites tomorrow, but at least Gary Locke's got nothing to lose at this point in his career.

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