Daly exits as Hearts target striker Boyce

JON DALY departed Hearts on New Year’s Day as Daniel Stendel kicked off 2020 with his clear-out of the coaching department. The German is also pressing ahead with plans to strengthen the starting XI by adding Northern Ireland striker Liam Boyce to a long list of potential January signings. Daly had previously been demoted from the first-team set-up alongside Austin MacPhee and Liam Fox within days of former Barnsley boss Stendel arriving as head coach in December. MacPhee has since been handed a recruitment role by Hearts owner Ann Budge, who has asked the former interim boss to share ‘sporting director’ duties with axed manager Craig Levein. But Stendel, still hopeful that the club can prise one of his two long-term assistants Chris Stern

or Dale Tonge free from their contractual wrangles with Barnsley, isn’t holding back in clearing space for his own trusted lieutenants. The 45-year-old, who this week claimed the football department built by predecessor Levein lacked ‘professionalism’, remains optimistic that Stern in particular can join him before the end of the month. Barnsley sources insist, however, that Stern is still being paid by the Championship outfit — and will have to extricate himself from his current contract before going anywhere. In the meantime, Stendel is being assisted by promoted reserve team coach Andy Kirk, who he has described as ‘the only one I trust’. Stendel was similarly undiplomatic about the work previously done by Levein, declaring: ‘We need to improve our sports side. ‘For me, that is everything on the pitch, on the training pitch, here at Oriam. ‘We try to bring more professionalism to this club on the sports side. ‘When I talk with Ann and other people on the administration side of the club, you can see how they work in the boardroom, it’s so professional. ‘We need to work hard to bring the sports side up to the same level. Then we’re not just a good club but a big club.’

MacPhee’s recruitment role has led to Hearts chasing former Ross County striker Boyce, whose 25 goals for the Staggies in season 2016-17 prompted a record signing by Burton Albion. Northern Ireland assistant boss MacPhee is also trying to persuade Michael O’Neill to sanction deals for up to four of his Stoke players — Liam Lindsay, Peter Etebo, Mame Diouf and Adam Davies — to join Hearts before the transfer window closes at the end of the month. Hearts, meanwhile, are on a collision course with the Japanese FA after they demanded Ryotaro Meshino return to Edinburgh to help their relegation fight following the group games of the Olympic qualifiers in Thailand next week.

The Japanese are insisting the on-loan Manchester City star stay for the duration of the tournament which could rule him out of two vital league battles against Ross County and Rangers, as well as the Scottish Cup tie at home to Airdrie. Japan play Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Syria and are one of the favourites for the tournament. However, because they are hosts of the next Olympics, they have already qualified regardless, so Hearts have requested Meshino returns after the three group games. Japan boss Hajime Moriyasu said: ‘The Scottish team requested we return Ryotaro after the group stage. But that’s not what we want and we are still communicating with Hearts.’