Mcglynn is front runner

JOhN McGlynn has spoken of his “honour” at being in the frame to manage hearts, but says he recognises that he is only one of a number of candidates currently in line to take over at Tynecastle.

The raith rovers manager was actually at hearts’ training academy last night. however, rather than completing negotiations to succeed scottish Cup-winning manager Paulo sergio, the 50-year-old was overseeing an evening training session as raith rovers returned for pre-season preparation.

The Kirkcaldy club have pledged not to stand in McGlynn’s way in the event of him being offered the reins at Tynecastle, although a spokesman for hearts yesterday confirmed that a number of names were in the frame to replace sergio, as the sPl club take a similar path to those trodden by liverpool and Tottenham hotspur in the hunt for a new manager.

like the english clubs, hearts plan to speak to “several candidates”, although McGlynn remains a front runner after his good work with raith rovers since taking over from Craig levein in 2006. The club have granted hearts’ request to speak to McGlynn, after a formal approach was made by the edinburgh club on Wednesday sCOTlaND captain ross Ford has challenged his side to show the technical skill to nullify samoa’s physical threat as they bid to complete a southern hemisphere clean sweep at apia Park early tomorrow morning.

scotland are bidding to round off a successful tour which has brought victories over australia and Fiji, with a third win. The samoans will pose a significant challenge, though, as they have a host of europe-based big names and boast a huge front five which is designed to win the set-piece battle to allow them to play an organised and controlled game.

“They are big, so that means that we have got to be technically smart,” said Ford, who made no secret of his irritation at the way his side surrendered possession in the third quarter against Fiji last saturday. “We are not going to stick any more meat on over the next couple of days, so we have to be quick and we have to be technically very good to compete against them.

“It is going to be a tough game. samoa have got a lot of strengths, a lot of the european players are back. Census Johnston plays for Toulouse and is a good scrummager, the Clermont boy [Tii Paulo] is hooker and the Wasps boy [sakaria Taulafo] is at loosehead. They are big boys and good scrummagers, so we will have to be right up there to compete against them.

“They are a lot more structured than Fiji but still have the ability to break defences with their big men.

“They will be very physical, so it will be a tough challenge but it is one that the boys are looking forward to. a win would round the tour off well.”

The most significant addition to the samoa side which won the Pacific Nations Cup last week is Tusi Pisi, the main playmaker at stand-off. he has flown in from New Zealand to join his countrymen. samoa will be captained by winger David lemi, who will play for Worcester next season after a year at Glasgow.

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