Rix ousted at Hearts
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Article summary
Heart of Midlothian FC have sacked coach Graham Rix despite the Englishman only being in charge of the Scottish Premier League high-fliers since November.
Article body
Heart of Midlothian FC have sacked head coach Graham Rix, with chairman Roman Romanov claiming the club's recent displays were to blame.
Short reign
The 48-year-old Englishman had been appointed in November after the Scottish Premier League challengers parted company with George Burley, who himself had only been in charge since June 2005. Romanov said: "We have been disappointed with the performance of the team. Results were not what they should have been. We also felt that some of the signings made in January were not appropriate." Director of football Jim Duffy has been relieved of his duties as well.
Players' concerns
Romanov thanked Rix for his "hard work", but added: "He gave 100 per cent but ultimately it did not work out. Something had to be done quickly. We owed it to the fans." Rix's position had been undermined last month when speculation about club owner Vladimir Romanov's influence on team selection prompted a delegation of senior players to demand talks with the Lithuanian businessman.
Temporary appointment
Valdas Ivanauskas has been named interim first-team coach until the end of the campaign, with John McGlynn assisting. Hearts are second in the Premier League, 14 points behind Celtic FC and six above Rangers FC. Chief executive Phil Anderton and previous chairman George Foulkes have also left the Edinburgh-based outfit this season.
