Poll on fans forum backs Craig Levein to continue as Hearts manager

Popular website Jambos Kickback has started a vote on whether the 53-year-old should remain in the Tynecastle dug-out for next season in the wake of Hearts’ 2-0 derby defeat by Hibs last Friday.

A large majority of supporters have backed Levein, with 74 per cent wanting him to stay, while 26 per cent would prefer to see someone else in charge next term.

Levein, who also holds the role of director of football at Hearts, took over from Ian Cathro at the end of August last year after the club surprisingly exited the Betfred Cup at the group stages.

The former Scotland boss has this season presided over a 4-0 home win over Celtic in the Premiership and guided the club to a 1-0 win over Hibs in the Scottish Cup, but he has also lost two leagues derbies at Easter Road and the club are battling to hold on to their top-six spot. Hearts also departed the Scottish Cup at the quarter-final stage, losing to Motherwell.

Levein has won ten of his 29 matches in charge this season, drawing 11 and losing eight. The club has the second-best defensive record in the league with 29 goals conceded – helped by a club-record eight consecutive clean sheets across all competitions – but is also joint second-bottom of the scoring charts with 29 goals. Only Partick Thistle (26) have netted fewer times.

Despite an unremarkable campaign on the pitch, which has also coincided with the construction of a new main stand at Tynecastle, most Hearts fans want to give Levein the summer to reshape his squad and make the team more competitive in the 2018/19 season.

The poll and comments left by Hearts fans can be viewed here: http://www.hmfckickback.co.uk/index.php?/topic/175914-levein-poll/