Sergio returns and declares job at capital club ‘wasn’t finished’
the SPL. But Hutton admits it is away from the public glare that his admiration for the Hearts target has grown. He recalled how McGlynn climbed upon a cherry picker to clear out the stadium guttering. And, just last season, the Hearts target dipped into his own pocket to help fund accommodation for Argentinean striker Damian Casalinuovo.
Hutton said: “He is very professional and hard working in everything he does. If he is not at Kirkcaldy, he is away watching games, watching players or sizing up opponents. nobody is more committed. His poor wife Wilma, on his days off he takes her to football matches. He is a hard-working guy with good professional standards. He’s not scared to get his hands dirty away from football. He’s been up on a cherry picker clearing out the gutter at Stark’s Park. He’s done a great job for us.”
Hibs assistant Billy
Brown also knows McGlyyn’s strengths well, having known known him for 35 years, stretching back to when Brown coached the youthful McGlynn at under-16 level at Musselburgh Athletic.
In 1996 Brown, then assistant to Jim Jefferies, brought McGlynn toTynecastle by appointing him as Hearts’ under-16 coach on a part-time basis. He recalled: “In my playing days I did some coaching of Musselburgh under16s and John was in my side. After trying his luck at a couple of other places, I signed him again a few years later. He was a really hard-working player, and that is a hallmark of him as a coach. You could see, even as a young man, there was an interest in coaching and he developed that at the junior level.
“When Jim and I were at Hearts, I suggested bringing in John to coach the young lads and we had no doubts what sort of job he could do. He’s a good man, diligent guy and knows his football. We liked him a lot, we pushed him on to better himself and he responded fantastically. It would be terrific to see him get this sort of opportunity at Hearts.” PAULO Sergio reflected on his spell as Hearts manager with fondness on his return to Edinburgh yesterday as the appointment of his successor appeared to move a step closer.
The final match of his seasonlong stint at Tynecastle was the 5-1 William Hill Scottish Cup final win over Hibernian. Contract negotiations broke down despite that triumph, with Hearts seeking to cut costs and the wage demands of Sergio and his two assistants, Alberto Cabral and Sergio Cruz, proving a stumbling block.
Sergio could be succeeded by John McGlynn, a coach at Hearts for a decade before he left for Raith in november 2006. Sergio told BBC Scotland: “I met McGlynn when I was working last season. If he’s the man, I wish him all the best.”
Sergio was not ready to leave Gorgie and will this weekend meet friends, collect his belongings and have a farewell dinner. He added: “I think the job wasn’t finished. It was our pleasure to keep doing our job. We would like to do it, but we have to accept and understand what the board is doing for our club. For us, people have to understand too, that such a cut in our wage is too much for us. We want to do the job, but we have to look to our careers and to our lives too.
“I am very proud to have worked with Hearts and wish them all the best.”
Sergio would be interested in a return to Scottish football or a role in England. The former Sporting Lisbon boss added: “I would love to keep working in the UK. I’m waiting for a few things, seeing if there is a possibility for me.”