Controversial ex-Rangers star Steven Naismith has been sacked from his role as manager of Scottish Premiership strugglers Hearts.
The 38-year-old former Scotland international has been relieved of his duties at Tynecastle following a run of eight straight defeats this season.
Pressure had been mounting on Steven Naismith after Hearts were beaten 2-1 by St Mirren in Paisley in a result which ultimately proved the final straw for the Gorgie board.
Hearts’ only point of the season to date came in the 0-0 opening day Scottish Premiership draw with Rangers at Tynecastle.
The result – in tandem with the 3-0 defeat at Celtic Park – leaves Rangers five points off Premiership leaders Celtic and Aberdeen.
Naismith leaves Hearts bottom of the Scottish Premiership table and out of the Premier Sports Cup having been knocked out by Scottish Championship side Falkirk.
Ex-Rangers striker Naismith was also beaten in a Europa League playoff against Viktoria Plzen, with the Jambos’ Europa Conference League campaign set to kick off against Dinamo Minsk on October 3rd.
Steven Naismith sacked by Hearts
Hearts CEO Andrew McKinlay has thanked Steven Naismith for his commitment to Hearts over the last 17 months of his employment.
However, Tynecastle bosses believe that the results have fallen way short of expected this season with the Jambos acting before it’s too late to salvage the campaign.
“I’d like to firstly thank Steven, Gordon and Frankie for all their efforts over the past year and a half,” McKinlay said in a Hearts statement.
“They worked tirelessly in their roles and without them we would not have enjoyed the successes of last season.
“However, things can change quickly, particularly in football, and it has been clear for all to see that things are not working this season. Results and performances have fallen below the standards expected at this football club and, unfortunately, there is little evidence of any potential upturn in fortunes.
“With our UEFA Conference League campaign about to commence, and the spotlight on our league position, we cannot afford to stand still. That is why we, as a Board of Directors, have made the difficult decision to part ways with the management team, who go with our thanks and best wishes.
“We will update supporters shortly about next steps in both the short and long term but for now, the club shall be making no further comment at this time.”
Scotland striker tainted Rangers legacy
Steven Naismith – who finished a successful playing career at Hearts in 2021 – was initially appointed on an interim basis and guided the Jambos to a 3rd place finish last season.
The job at Tynecastle was Naismith’s first in football and came after a playing career which started at Kilmarnock and brought him to Rangers in 2007.
After five years in Glasgow, where Naismith won six major honours including three SPL titles, the former Ibrox striker left the club in disgrace in 2012.
Following Rangers’ financial collapse, alongside Ibrox full-back Stephen Whittaker, Naismith claimed that ‘Rangers Football Club no longer exists in its original form’.
It’s a comment around which the outgoing Hearts boss has previously expressed regret, but it has forever tainted his legacy amongst Ibrox supporters.
Going on to play for Everton in the English Premier League, Naismith also spent time at Norwich City and made 51 caps for the Scotland international team, scoring ten goals.
