Daly: ‘Result proves I’m the man’
JON DALY last night declared himself ready to lead Hearts on a permanent basis.
The Jam Tarts caretaker added to last week’s win over Kilmarnock by leading his side to an impressive draw with Rangers yesterday.
Daly’s team was organised, determined and hard-working at Ibrox. Now he hopes Hearts’ decision-makers are willing to deal him in for real.
“I think the result shows I’m comfortable taking a first team, regardless if it’s Hearts or anyone else,” said the Irishman.
“The back-room staff and I work extremely hard so I think it shows that we put in the hours, we put in the homework on the opposition.
“It also shows the players are buying into what we’re trying to do .
“The effort and work-rate you have seen in the last three games – Celtic, Kilmarnock and now Rangers – has been a different class.
“I’ll always back my ability to do the job. I’m very comfortable doing the job at the minute.”
The Hearts hierarchy are set to ramp up their search for a new head coach this week, having already spoken to Steven Pressley.
Steve McLaren, Paul Hartley, Edgar Davids and Fabrizio Ravanelli have also been linked with the Tynecastle post.
But Daly is happy enough for Jam Tarts owner Ann Budge and director of football Craig Levein to take their time over the decision.
“No news is good news – it means I stay in the job, which is good for me!” he joked.
“I think for the board us getting results and getting the performances we’re getting gives them the time to make the right decision.
“They want to make sure they get the right person, whether it’s me or someone else.
“If we get to Motherwell there’s an international break and it gives them a little more time.
“We’ve four points so far – with the start we had and the form the team were in, I think a lot of people may not have expected us to have one.
“So we’re four better off than everyone expected us to be. It buys the club and the people making the decision time to make it.”