Hearts Look To Levein Or McGhee To Take Over As Boss

Mar 23 2008 By Mark Guidi

Exclusive

HEARTS have stepped up moves to land a new gaffer and it now appears to be a straight fight between Craig Levein and Mark McGhee.

Jambos supremo Vladimir Romanov will make official approaches at the end of the season to interview contenders and MailSport understands Levein is the favoured choice. The Dundee United boss was a success during his spell in the Hearts hotseat and is now doing an excellent job at Tannadice.

However, before Romanov has any chance of landing Levein there will have to be assurances he will be given total control of team matters. McGhee would demand the same guarantees.

United owner Eddie Thompson won't want to lose his manager and will fight all the way to keep him.

But the lure of going back to Tynecastle could prove too much for former Jambos player Levein to resist.

Although at this stage there has been no official contact for permission to speak to Levein, Romanov has spent the past four weeks in talks with Hearts chiefs aimed at identifying a leading candidate.

After previously interfering in team selection Vlad has now told close aides he accepts he must step back.

And he been impressed by the credentials of both Levein and McGhee.

Fir Park chief John Boyle also wants to keep the impressive McGhee but privately has accepted he will lose his manager to a bigger club in the near future.

Stevie Frailis in temporary charge of Jambos and that will remain the case until the end of May.

However, he is not in contention to land the job permanently.

And there will be no return to Tynecastle for former boss Jim Jefferies, now at Kilmarnock.