HIBS POISED TO APPOINT ROSS AS NEW MANAGER

former club St Mirren three days later. After starting his managerial career at Alloa, he performed a minor miracle by keeping the relegation-haunted Saints in the Championship in 2016-17. He then led the Buddies to the title and promotion to the Premiership the following season and was named PFA Scotland Manager of the Year for 2017-18. The rising star was then handed the chance to resurrect sleeping giants Sunderland in their bid to return to the English Championship. However, after losing the League One play-off final 2-1 to a stoppage-time winner from Charlton at Wembley in May, he was sacked last month with Sunderland sitting sixth in the third tier. Now he has been handed a speedy return to the dugout by Hibs chief executive Leeann Dempster and director of football Graeme Mathie. The decision to sack Heckingbottom came earlier this month after a dismal start to the season saw the former Barnsley and Leeds United boss secure just one win in the Premiership. His final game was a 5-2 defeat to

Celtic in the Betfred Cup semi-final at Hampden. Caretaker boss Eddie May was in charge as Hibs thumped St Johnstone 4-1 at McDiarmid Park last weekend to move the team up to eighth in the table. Meanwhile, Stuart McCall (left) has emerged as a contender for the Hearts job after being interviewed by the Tynecastle club this week. The 55-year-old former Rangers, Motherwell and Bradford City boss has been out of work since leaving Scunthorpe in March. Hearts have also held talks with Steve Cotterill, who has been without a club since being sacked by Birmingham City in March 2018. Plans are in place to speak to more candidates in the coming days, with Tynecastle owner Ann Budge in no rush to appoint Craig Levein’s successor as well as filling a newly-defined sporting director role. Levein had filled a dual role as manager and sporting director before his sacking at the end of last month. Among those also being linked with Hearts are Dougie Freedman, who is sporting director at Crystal Palace, Salford City manager Graham Alexander, Ian Holloway, Neil Warnock, Felix Magath, current interim boss Austin MacPhee and Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson. Robinson is also being touted for the Northern Ireland job, following Michael O’Neill’s decision to join Stoke City.