Rix to step into Burley's shoes
Monday, November 7, 2005
Article summary
Heart of Midlothian FC are to replace former manager George Burley (pictured) with Graham Rix, who will operate as coach under a director of football.
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'A massive chance'
The 48-year-old Rix watched Hearts defeat Dundee United FC 3-0 on Saturday to stay level on points with Scottish Premier League leaders Celtic FC, before meeting the first-team squad on Monday evening. "I saw them win on Saturday and am very excited to be working with them. It is a massive chance and I am very grateful for the opportunity and determined to make a go of it," said Rix, the former Portsmouth FC and Oxford United FC manager.
Burley departure
The news comes at the end of a turbulent two weeks for Hearts after Burley vacated the manager's chair citing "irreconcilable differences" with majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov. His exit was followed by those of chief executive Phil Anderton and chairman George Foulkes. Romanov welcomed the appointment of Rix, however, saying: "We feel he has the energy and the ambition. We are very positive about the decision."
Mixed experiences
Rix will work under a yet-to-be-named director of football. Capped 17 times by England, he was a coach at Chelsea FC in the late 1990s before spells with Portsmouth and Oxford in the English lower leagues.
