Latest news with #McInnes'
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Is McInnes the man to get Hearts beating again?
Heart of Midlothian began the season with European football to savour, Steven Naismith in the dugout and waves of positivity radiating from Tynecastle. They ended up finishing in the Scottish Premiership's bottom six, with nothing tangible to play for, and another quest for a new head coach. Naismith was dismissed in September after a wretched start to the campaign. Successor Neil Critchley's six-month reign was brief and meek, an initial upturn dissipating and the Englishman paying the price for tumbling out of the top half of the table and failing to notch a "statement" result. Now Hearts have turned to Premiership veteran Derek McInnes for the 53-year-old's services. Seasoned and successful, the now former Kilmarnock boss is a known quantity to the Hearts board. But is he the right man to take the Edinburgh heavyweights forward? McInnes aims to 'deliver silverware' for Hearts Docherty departs, McInnes unveiled and a new Scotland squad McInnes can be a polarising figure in Scotland, even among fans of Aberdeen, for whom he delivered such consistent results over eight years at the helm. Some laud the intellect, organisation and repeated success of his sides, while others point to a perception of industrial football and few trophies. His track record is undeniably impressive. Promotions with St Johnstone and Kilmarnock 13 years apart, a League Cup triumph with Aberdeen in 2014 and a top-six finish at Rugby Park last term are the tangible waypoints. However, there is a lot more to like about how McInnes' Dons motored in a league dominated by Celtic. Aberdeen never finished outside the top four, were runners-up four years running, and often had the misfortune of facing Brendan Rodgers' trophy-guzzling juggernaut in the latter stages of cup competitions. That said, in the early part of his tenure, St Johnstone, Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Hibernian all lifted the Scottish Cup, while Aberdeen's wait for the silverware has now stretched to 35 years and Motherwell pipped them to second spot in the Premiership. As McInnes' long stewardship petered to an unedifying end, his football was pilloried and tactics decried as dull and unattractive. Hearts will crave style as well as substance, but the latter commodity is of far greater importance right now. McInnes has the experience and character to handle a club of Hearts' size, the weight of expectation and lofty demands it carries. He has proven as much at Pittodrie. His preferred tactical blueprint is worth highlighting too. McInnes often deploys wingers either side of a central striker. His front three of Niall McGinn, Adam Rooney and Johnny Hayes spearheaded a fine period for Aberdeen's attack. The travails of Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland are well documented, routinely utilised as the advanced tip of a midfield diamond by Critchley rather than the number nine position from which he gobbled up 31 goals last season. Since Critchley's departure, interim head coach Liam Fox pushed Shankland further forward and the Scotland striker has scored four goals in two matches. There is history between Shankland and his prospective new gaffer. It was McInnes who signed and released him as a young forward struggling to make his mark in the Granite City. Shankland is out of contract in the summer and talks with the Tynecastle talisman would be high on McInnes' to-do list should he make the move. "Lawrence, I know him more than Craig but both are capable players, have proven they're good players here. I just want to work with good players," said McInnes after being unveiled. The managerial job at Hearts does not mean an all-powerful grip on the club, given the existing structure of the football department. McInnes would likely be 'head coach' rather than 'manager', working with sporting director Graeme Jones and the renowned Jamestown Analytics software that has a key role in Hearts' recruitment. Those constraints have fuelled suggestions that McInnes would be reluctant to work under such an arrangement, hotly disputed by former Hearts defender and football agent Allan Preston. "That's not true," Preston said on BBC Radio Scotland. "He's gone into football clubs, the first one being St Johnstone, where there wasn't really a structure in place and made changes to put that structure in place. "He goes to Aberdeen, Craig Brown was managing there, they were in the bottom six and he put a structure in place there as well. "He wants to do the best thing for the football club. It doesn't mean total domination. He doesn't demand total control - far from it." And Steven Thompson, the former Scotland striker, says McInnes will provide the steadying influence Hearts have lacked. "Hearts are a club in need of stability and you can guarantee that with Derek, a top manager who has been in this league for a number of years," he said. "It would work out well for Derek and Hearts - but not Kilmarnock. Are they going to get someone of his calibre again?" We asked Hearts fans for their thoughts on McInnes being targeted and their opionions were split down the middle: Joey Martin: It's a no-brainer. What we need is a period of stability. To rebuild. And Derek has that ability and experience. Colin Allison: Why would Hearts want to appoint a manager solely on the basis that, as a safe pair of hands, he would be good enough to produce a regular third place in the league? Where is the ambition? Just look at McInnes' personal trophy cabinet - it speaks volumes. Surely there is an exciting, talented manager out there to take over the reins at Tynecastle? Terry Dobson: McInnes should've been in the door years ago at Tynecastle, but instead we've mucked about with risks such as Ian Cathro, Daniel Stendel and Critchley. McInnes would be the best gaffer and the biggest statement at the club since the appointment of Graham Rix. Bruce Aitchison: Would rather see the club show a bit ambition and try and hire someone that's been in the Premier League before. Alan Curbishley, Kevin Keegan, Steve Bruce etc. Someone who has played at the highest level and also managed there too. Bruce Wishart: To me, he is a top manager. Plenty of experience. Will bring stability to the club. Critchley never had what it takes to run a club the size of Hearts. Alf: Not an inspiring choice. As Aberdeen manager, he was never known for adventurous football and arguably under-performed for years at a time when Hearts, Hibs and Rangers were all struggling or not even in the top division. Jason Brownhill: Hearts should have appointed McInnes some time ago. He's always been a strong, reliable manager with a great knowledge of the Scottish game and he is a manager who commands respect. Hearts have a great infrastructure in place and, with Jamestown Analytics on board, I really think this could become a successful combination. Hearts fans, are you enthused or concerned by the prospect of McInnes taking charge? Let us know your thoughts. Visit our Hearts page for all the latest news, analysis and fan views Get Hearts news notifications in the BBC Sport app McInnes aims to 'deliver silverware' for Hearts
Scotsman
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Derek McInnes speaks on Hearts, transfers, Lawrence Shankland, Craig Gordon, Jamestown and future plans
The former Kilmarnock manager addressed media at Tynecastle Sign up to our Hearts newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The pertinence of Derek McInnes sitting in Tynecastle's Gorgie Suite as Hearts' new manager on 19 May was hard to avoid. Thirteen years on from the greatest day in the Edinburgh club's history in the Scottish Cup final against Hibs, this is a new era aimed at recapturing such lofty heights. The 53-year-old looked relaxed, happy and ready for business. He stated that the Hearts job is one he long desired and is clearly confident he can shoulder expectations in Gorgie. Hearts finished seventh in this year's Premiership, four places below their pre-season target, and McInnes' four-year deal is designed to address the malaise. First, he was addressing media and outlining plans to restore his new club to a challenging position. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He demonstrated a clear focus and acute understanding of what Hearts need right now. This seems an obvious fit: The experienced Premiership manager taking over a club needing revitalised. For sceptics, the energy emanating from the new head coach filled the large function suite beneath the Gorgie Road Stand. He is hungry for an opportunity in an environment he admired from afar for many years. 'Obviously, the last few days have been problematic, not straightforward,' explained McInnes after his departure from Kilmarnock. 'Sometimes when there's changes, such is the way. The opportunity to manage Hearts was just everything I wanted, to be honest.I've always felt this was a club that I wanted to manage. I think it's a good fit. I think they can match my ambition, what I want – and equally, hopefully I can give them what they want. 'The intention is to try and deliver silverware, bring sustained success on the pitch, and just be the biggest animal we can be and try and meet the expectation that's there from everybody. I've obviously managed before, it's a similar-sized club at Aberdeen and there's similar expectations but I feel as though there's so much going for us here at Tynecastle and at Hearts that there's a real excitement about being the guy to take it on. With what's in structure there behind us, the support network, I feel as though it's something that we can really get our teeth into and do well here. 'I've got nothing to apologise for because I loved the time at Kilmarnock. It was a brilliant club and I'd made so many good friends and relationships here. It was some real highlights. In a lot of time with these things there's a lot of emotion and sometimes a lot of pain when there's decisions to be made. Ideally I would have done it at the end of the season. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Obviously, when they first got muted about Hearts interest I spoke to [chairman] Billy Bowie about it. I told him I didn't want to leave the club until the club was safe and if there could be an agreement between Hearts and Kilmarnock it's something that I would like to explore. I wanted the opportunity to speak to Hearts and take this job on. 'I think Billy has the right intentions. Kilmarnock are so fortunate to have him. He plugs the holes all the time. His investment and his commitment to the club is undeniable. When I met Billy last Tuesday he'd asked me to take the team for the last two games. Obviously it was something that I'm going to do what I'm told. I'm the Kilmarnock manager at the time and I just wanted to work with the club until we could get it resolved. 'Then, before the game on Wednesday against Motherwell, I spoke to the board again and I just thought this had to be my last game. I just thought Sunday's game would be too problematic, too antagonistic. I wouldn't have wanted to do that to the Kilmarnock supporters and players at the time and I just thought the game should be played without me as it did yesterday. So the club agreed to that. 'I wanted to speak to the press on Wednesday after the game and I got stick for not speaking, but the club asked me not to speak. It was the club instruction that said they didn't want me to do the interview after the game. So I complied with all that. Ultimately, it's never easy these things and for the sake of a few more days it might have been a bit different. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'For me, it's all about the new start with Hearts. Kilmarnock will go on and it's a brilliant club and they'll appoint a new manager. But for me and my family this is what I wanted. I was hoping up front that we'd be ready, so here we are and it's all about trying to move forward now. In football things change pretty quickly and I feel as though this can really get everything I want from the job.' One of McInnes' first tasks at Hearts will be to hold talks with captain Lawrence Shankland and goalkeeper Craig Gordon about their futures. Both are out of contract. 'Lawrence I know more than Craig, but both are capable players and have proven they're good players here. I just want to work with good players. So these conversations will be had, as they will do with the majority of the squad over the next wee while.B 'Spending time with Graeme [Jones, Hearts sporting director] over the next few days, we will be homing in on what we need for the start of the campaign and hopefully when the window closes, the squad will be more rounded. It might be a bit more balanced and a bit more of what I would want it to be for the challenges ahead. 'It's important that we've got the answers in the building. It's important we've got the squad that can meet the demand here and there is a demand. We should all relish it, players, myself, Graeme, everybody. There's a demand here and if none of us are doing our job right then it's not good enough, so it's important we do our job.' More to follow....
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Killieare on the rise with or without McInnes
Robbie Deas believes Kilmarnock are "capable of going on to bigger and better things" with or without manager Derek McInnes. Hearts have agreed a deal to secure McInnes' services, although personal terms have yet to be finalised. Defender Deas, meanwhile, has agreed a new two-year contract extension with the Ayrshire club and revealed "I wouldn't have signed" if he did not think they could be successful under a new manager. "I feel very at home here," the 25-year-old, previously of former Inverness Caledonian Thistle, said. "I think it's been a successful two years. "Finishing fourth and getting into Europe was amazing and I maybe took that for granted because it was my first year here. "This season's been quite difficult, but at the end of the day, we secured safety in the Premiership." Kilmarnock have won three games in a row despite speculation about McInnes' future during which Deas thought there had been "no mood change in the camp". He admitted that McInnes' "stature" was "one of the main reasons" he signed for the club and that: "I feel he has been really good with me and I've come on leaps and bounds." However, Deas believes "I've still got a lot to give to the club" and that there is "loads of quality" in the squad no matter who is manager next season. "The only reason I want to stay is because I know the players who are going to be here," he added. "There's nowhere else I would want to play my football for the next two years."
Scotsman
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Hearts midfielder Beni Baningime asked for reassurance over Derek McInnes and says he hates facing Kilmarnock
Watch more of our videos on and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 Visit Shots! now Clubs have agreed terms for McInnes to swap Rugby Park for Tynecastle Sign up to our Hearts newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Beni Baningime openly admits he sought reassurance when he first heard Derek McInnes mentioned as Hearts' next head coach. The Congolese midfielder wondered about playing style having developed a real dislike for facing McInnes' Kilmarnock side. His concern was allayed by team-mates who have played for and against McInnes' teams over the years. Baningime consulted the Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland, who played under McInnes at Aberdeen, and winger Barrie McKay, who encountered many of the 53-year-old's sides during his career. Hearts and Kilmarnock have agreed terms for McInnes to officially swap Rugby Park for Tynecastle Park, which is expected to be next week. Baningime is now anticipating a new era with much enthusiasm. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'If he's the new manager, for me it was just about finding out what sort of style of play he has,' explained the midfielder. 'They told me he's a really good manager. Obviously, Kilmarnock's style of play is a little bit different from ours. From what I've seen, it's long balls and that sort of stuff. I was wondering about that so I asked them: 'How will the style of play fit in here?' I was told before that when he was at Aberdeen he was really good, getting second and third places a lot. I didn't know that, so asking the boys and them clearing it up put my mind at ease. 'In my four years here, I didn't know anything different. I did get a bit of a fright because I'm not really that sort of player. I'm more about getting the ball to feet, on the ground. I'm not saying I'm not up for the fight but I wouldn't really want to have the ball played over my head. I'm reassured now.' Kilmarnock's approach is largely tailored to Rugby Park's synthetic playing surface and Baningime admitted he detests facing the Ayrshire club. 'Definitely. I hate playing Kilmarnock. I hate it. They're so hard to play against,' he remarked. 'If that's what we're going to be in terms of being hard to beat, honestly I love that because you need that in your team. If your manager is driving that then that's going to be absolutely brilliant for us.' Beni's regret and Lawrence Shankland's new Hearts contract talks He is now eager to see what McInnes' Hearts team will look like next season. 'I'd say intrigued is the right word. I just want to see what's going to happen. I remember talking after the [Scottish] cup semi-final, the first thing that happens when a manager loses his job is that I look within. I think, 'Could I have done better?' Obviously I texted the gaffer [Neil Critchley] and wished him all the best. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I wouldn't say it's excitement, because I've been a part of the team. If I hadn't been playing, there would be excitement because I hadn't been a part of it. I'm just looking forward to seeing what the new manager brings to us. From what I've heard, he's a really good manager and everyone's been speaking very highly of him. Shanks is probably our best player. If he's saying that, then I am excited to work with him.' Speaking of Shankland, Hearts have offered him a contract to extend his stay in Gorgie. Baningime would love him to sign. 'Of course. That's up to Shanks and the club. He's a great player. He's one of the few Hearts players to win Player of the Year in the Premiership. For him to do that, whatever Hearts are going to offer it will have to be according for what he's done. Ultimately for him, he has to make that decision. If it was up to me? Give him anything he wants!' READ MORE: Hearts release players as part of a Tynecastle overhaul
Scotsman
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Hearts' Beni Baningime wanted reassurances over Derek McInnes after admitting he hates facing Kilmarnock
Watch more of our videos on and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 Visit Shots! now Clubs have agreed terms for McInnes to swap Rugby Park for Tynecastle Sign up to our Hearts newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Beni Baningime openly admits he sought reassurance when he first heard Derek McInnes mentioned as Hearts' next head coach. The Congolese midfielder wondered about playing style having developed a real dislike for facing McInnes' Kilmarnock side. His concern was allayed by team-mates who have played for and against McInnes' teams over the years. Baningime consulted the Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland, who played under McInnes at Aberdeen, and winger Barrie McKay, who encountered many of the 53-year-old's sides during his career. Hearts and Kilmarnock have agreed terms for McInnes to officially swap Rugby Park for Tynecastle Park, which is expected to be next week. Baningime is now anticipating a new era with much enthusiasm. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'If he's the new manager, for me it was just about finding out what sort of style of play he has,' explained the midfielder. 'They told me he's a really good manager. Obviously, Kilmarnock's style of play is a little bit different from ours. From what I've seen, it's long balls and that sort of stuff. I was wondering about that so I asked them: 'How will the style of play fit in here?' I was told before that when he was at Aberdeen he was really good, getting second and third places a lot. I didn't know that, so asking the boys and them clearing it up put my mind at ease. 'In my four years here, I didn't know anything different. I did get a bit of a fright because I'm not really that sort of player. I'm more about getting the ball to feet, on the ground. I'm not saying I'm not up for the fight but I wouldn't really want to have the ball played over my head. I'm reassured now.' Kilmarnock's approach is largely tailored to Rugby Park's synthetic playing surface and Baningime admitted he detests facing the Ayrshire club. 'Definitely. I hate playing Kilmarnock. I hate it. They're so hard to play against,' he remarked. 'If that's what we're going to be in terms of being hard to beat, honestly I love that because you need that in your team. If your manager is driving that then that's going to be absolutely brilliant for us.' Beni's regret and Lawrence Shankland's new Hearts contract talks He is now eager to see what McInnes' Hearts team will look like next season. 'I'd say intrigued is the right word. I just want to see what's going to happen. I remember talking after the [Scottish] cup semi-final, the first thing that happens when a manager loses his job is that I look within. I think, 'Could I have done better?' Obviously I texted the gaffer [Neil Critchley] and wished him all the best. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I wouldn't say it's excitement, because I've been a part of the team. If I hadn't been playing, there would be excitement because I hadn't been a part of it. I'm just looking forward to seeing what the new manager brings to us. From what I've heard, he's a really good manager and everyone's been speaking very highly of him. Shanks is probably our best player. If he's saying that, then I am excited to work with him.' Speaking of Shankland, Hearts have offered him a contract to extend his stay in Gorgie. Baningime would love him to sign. 'Of course. That's up to Shanks and the club. He's a great player. He's one of the few Hearts players to win Player of the Year in the Premiership. For him to do that, whatever Hearts are going to offer it will have to be according for what he's done. Ultimately for him, he has to make that decision. If it was up to me? Give him anything he wants!' READ MORE: Hearts release players as part of a Tynecastle overhaul
