John McGlynn glad to have Edgaras Jankauskas on Hearts team

Manager John McGlynn today welcomed Edgaras Jankauskas to Hearts and insisted that the Tynecastle club now have the coaching staff in place to take them forward.

The Lithuanian, a former striker with Hearts, was confirmed as assistant manager to McGlynn last night, and will join Gary Locke and Darren Murray as part of the backroom staff.

Jankauskas, who won the Champions League with Porto back in 2004 as a player, spent last season working as assistant manager with Lokomotiv Moscow.

The 37-year-old Lithuanian will join McGlynn, who returned to the club last week after a five-and-a-half year absence, in the dugout for their first pre-season friendly against Raith Rovers on July 14.

The appointment may be viewed by some as a move by Vladimir Romanov to install an ally in the dressing-room but, having worked with Jankauskas at the club before, McGlynn stressed that he is looking forward to joining forces with him again in a new capacity.

McGlynn said: “Obviously, I’ve worked with him in the past and I know what a talented individual he was on the field. I’m certain that, having spent a year coaching in Russia, he will prove to be just as exceptional off the field too and he’ll slot in perfectly to the coaching set-up here.

“This is a new start at Hearts and I’m confident we have the right people to take this club forward.”

Jankauskas originally joined Hearts in 2005 as a player and went on to score nine goals in his two years in Edinburgh.

He also secured a Scottish Cup winner’s medal after Hearts’ victory over Gretna, thanks to a penalty shoot-out back in 2006.

After a spell in the American MLS, Jankauskas was appointed assistant to Jose Couceiro – who was also linked with the Hearts manager’s job – at Lokomotiv Moskow in 2010.

Meanwhile, Coventry City have confirmed the signing of former Hearts striker Stephen Elliott on a free transfer.

The 28-year-old Republic of Ireland international’s contract with Hearts ran out at the end of last season and he hasn’t wasted any time in landing a new deal.

He has penned a one-year contract at the Ricoh Arena and his signing is the Sky Blues manager, Andy Thorn’s, first new addition of a frustrating close season in the transfer market so far.