The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Neilson heads for Hearts exit as deal struck with MK Dons
Tynecastle coach and assistant Crawford to take over at Stadium MK
Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson is set to become the new MK Dons manager after the clubs agreed compensation.
The Scottish Premiership club have also given permission for assistant boss Stevie Crawford to discuss personal terms with the Sky Bet League One side, who have been managerless since the departure of Karl Robinson on October 23.
Hearts have already begun searching for Neilson’s successor, according to a statement on the club’s official website.
It read: “The club can confirm that we have agreed terms with Milton Keynes Dons FC in relation to head coach Robbie Neilson and assistant head coach Stevie Crawford.
“Ann Budge (owner), the board of directors and everyone at Heart of Midlothian Football Club would like to sincerely thank Robbie and Stevie for the enormous part they have played in helping to re-establish the club in the upper echelons of Scottish football.
“The record-breaking 2014-15 Championship-winning season, which secured our promotion back to the top flight at the first time of asking, will long live in the memory of Hearts supporters, as will the highly impressive third-place finish and the return to European football which was achieved the following season.
“They leave us in an enviable position, sitting second in the Premiership table with a healthy playing squad, rich with talent and promise. We wish them every success in their new challenge with Milton Keynes Dons FC.
“We will now begin the formal process of recruiting a new head coach and assistant head coach.”
Earlier in the day, Neilson, 36, craftily evaded waiting media at the club’s Riccarton training ground with the help of a masked decoy.
The former Hearts full-back gave journalists the slip when a member of his coaching staff, believed to be head of sports science John Hill, donned a Neilson mask along with the outgoing head coach’s initialled coat as he got into his car and drove off.
Neilson is expected to be announced as Dons manager before tomorrow’s Emirates FA Cup tie against Charlton.
The English club said Neilson and Crawford would finalise personal terms today.
Meanwhile, Newcastle say they have had no approach from Hearts for Ian Cathro, who is the favourite to succeed Neilson at Tynecastle.
While both clubs discussed compensation, Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez revealed he was in the dark over reports that Hearts had made his assistant coach their top choice to replace Neilson.
Benitez said: “Ian is a great coach. We don’t have any official approach. We are happy with him and we will continue with that. He is a young coach, he has some experience and has a great future.
“The media is telling me Hearts will come, but it depends on the head coach they have at the moment if he goes or not. That is football. It is just speculation.”
Cathro previously worked with Hearts director of football Craig Levein at Dundee United.
Other names in the frame for the Tynecastle post last night were Falkirk boss Peter Houston and Steven Pressley, who left Fleetwood in July.