Austin MacPhee unclear if he has a part in Hearts' future plans

Austin MacPhee is waiting to see what the future holds at Hearts

Interim Hearts manager Austin MacPhee admits he does not know which role, if any, he will be given once the club appoint a new manager.

Daniel Stendel has agreed terms to become manager and Hearts also intend to appoint a sporting director, but assistant coach MacPhee is no clearer on his own future.

“I think once the club have the next steps in place for whoever will be the head coach, then there will probably be a conversation with me at that point about whatever role may be at the club, if any,” he said.

“I understand the situation and I’m not naive about it. You can only make a decision when someone offers you something.”

MacPhee’s interim spell has involved two defeats against Rangers, one at Kilmarnock and a home win against St Mirren so far. He feels any incoming manager may have chosen to wait to take the Hearts job.

“Arguably, you would say that if a top manager looked at those fixtures, he would go: ‘I’m not sitting in the dugout for them.’ Most of them don’t do that.

"They wait till they get a period of games, like Jack Ross has got, and they say: ‘I’ll take the job now.’ The last thing they want is to be on the back foot with media and supporters.

"Evidence says Hearts don’t get great results against Rangers in Glasgow and two of your first four experiences would be that. If I was the guy’s agent, I might tell him to stay in the house.”