Neilson praises United as he seals return to Hearts

As a result of this, the contractual termination clause has been met and Robbie will leave the club.

“As head coach, he led the team to a play-off final before achieving promotion with a Championship title this season and I would like to thank him for his contribution.

“Gordon Forest and Lee McCulloch will continue leading our pre-season preparations ahead of the Scottish Premiership restart and we will look to appoint a new head coach as soon as possible.”

Speaking to the Hearts website after the move was rubber-stamped, Neilson declared: “You don’t turn down the chance to come to a club like Hearts and I’m absolutely delighted to be coming back.

“I had some great experiences here, both as a player and manager, and I’m keen to pick up where I left off.

“Everyone knows there is a really good squad at Hearts and I’m excited to begin working with the players and staff.

“Finally, I’d like to say thank you to Dundee United for the opportunity they gave me two years ago.

“I hope the United fans feel that together we managed to restore the club back to where it belongs.”

Neilson was appointed head coach of Hearts in May 2014 and would go on to lead them to the Championship title within a year.

He then led the club to a third-place finish in the Premiership before heading to England to manage MK Dons.

He left the English club in January 2018 and the Tangerines appointed him as their boss to replace Csaba Laszlo in October of that year.

Neilson missed out on promotion in a play-off penalty shootout against St Mirren at the end of that campaign but got it right second time around.

Lee McCulloch will help lead pre-season training.