Former Hearts coach Jon Daly heads to Finland to work with ex-Rangers striker Jonatan Johansson

Former Hearts coach Jon Daly is heading to Finland to become Jonatan Johansson’s assistant at TPS.

Former Hearts coach Jon Daly is heading to Finland.

The Irishman has agreed to take up the position for the 2021 season and will travel to Turku after the current campaign finishes next month.

Daly will work as Johansson’s No.2 and also take charge of the TPS Under-23 team having performed similar roles at Hearts.

The former Dundee United and Rangers striker joined the Riccarton coaching staff in 2015 and initially coached the Hearts under-20 squad. He filled in as the club’s interim manager on two separate occasions.

He left in January following the appointment of Daniel Stendel as manager and will now continue his coaching career in the Finnish Veikkausliiga.

TPS – Turun Palloseura – have offered a contract until the end of next year and want Daly to help young players make the transition from their reserve team to senior squad.

“I am very excited about the possibility to arrive in Turku and the fact that I get to work with Jonatan,” said 37-year-old Daly. “We have already worked well together on UEFA Pro coach training at the Scottish Football Association.

“I am happy to come to a new enviornment and culture. Of course, I also look forward to TPS staff, players and supporters. The goal, of course, is for me to help TPS develop as a club.”

Johansson believes Daly’s arrival will bring a new approach and is keen to work with his new right-hand man. “He is a little different from me as a person, which I see in the overall picture as a strength,” the Finn told Turun Sanomat.

“Jon is really reliable and has an excellent work ethic. He understands the players very well but at the same time is very demanding of them.

“Jon knows holistically what young players need to develop, including the mental side. I think we get more out of young players with this equation.

“The reserve team is a very important part of the activities of the TPS representative team, and in the future we will plan the activities of both teams together.”

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