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Gordon Forrest heads to Asia after the managerial change at Tynecastle

Former Hearts coach Gordon Forrest has moved quickly to secure a new job just two weeks after leaving Tynecastle Park. The 47-year-old has joined Shenzhen Peng City in China, a club within the worldwide City Football Group headed up by English champions Manchester City.

Forrest has agreed an initial short-term contract to help Shenzhen until the end of the year. The Chinese football season follows the calendar year and the team are currently fighting relegation, sitting third bottom of the table. He joins a club which is one of 13 across the globe owned or partially-owned by City Group.

Forrest was eager to return to work quickly after losing his job when Hearts relieved their three-man management team of their duties. Head coach Steven Naismith was dismissed along with assistants Forrest and Frankie McAvoy on 22 September following a run of eight successive defeats.

That meant a new chapter in Forrest’s career. He had been in Gorgie since 2020 having initially moved from Dundee United as part of former Hearts manager Robbie Neilson’s staff. After coaching in Scotland, New Zealand and Canada, he took the opportunity of a new experience in China.

In a post on social media, Forrest said: “Delighted to be joining Shenzhen Peng City FC for their remaining games in the Chinese Super League. A quality opportunity to work with some great staff and players and part of the City Group.”

The 13 clubs controlled by City Group are Man City, Belgian side Lommel SK, Palermo in Italy, Japanese team Yokohama F Marinos, Shenzhen Peng City, Mumbai City of India, Australian club Melbourne City, Bolivar from Bolivia [partner club], Uruguayan side Montevideo City Torque, Esporte Club Bahia in Brazil, New York City of the MLS, Spanish club Girona and Troyes from France.

Former Hearts coach gets a new job in China with Man City's sibling club