Former Hearts goalkeeping coach Jonathan Craig is convinced the Jambos will benefit in the long run by keeping Daniel Stendel in place as their manager.
At the moment, the club are bottom of the Premiership and are under serious threat of relegation.
There are eight games remaining of the 2019/20 season for the Edinburgh club to save their skin, but there is uncertainty about how it will conclude given the suspension caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Stendel became Hearts boss last December (Photo by Ewan Bootman/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The preference is for the campaign to resume later this year, but there is simply no way of telling at this point if the situation is going to let up.
That has led to speculation the current standings may be taken as final – were that to happen, Hearts would be relegated to the Championship; something owner Ann Budge has said she’d seek legal action over.
In the eyes of Craig, who worked with the German at Barnsley, the club must retain Stendel for next season whatever happens.
He said (Daily Record): “I 100% expect it to click if he stays because he is a really, really good manager. He’s a good coach and knows what he wants from his players. At Barnsley they players showed that because that was a really difficult league.
Stendel has been endorsed by goalkeeping coach Craig (Photo by Ewan Bootman/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
“Luton won the league, Sunderland were in there, Portsmouth as well. A really difficult league to get out of so to finish second shows he’s a good manager and a good coach.
“If Hearts do stay up, the club will click and the team will click next season under him.
“The Hearts fans love attacking football, they love a high tempo and passion on the pitch as well. What Daniel showed at Barnsley, I thought he would definitely show at Hearts.
A ringing endorsement
Craig obviously knows Stendel well, and his comments suggest Hearts have a good manager at the helm.
If Hearts do suffer relegation it might be out of their hands when it comes to retaining Stendel, who supposedly has the option to leave if that happens.
The 45-year-old seems to be very settled at the club though, and also have a deep respect for it – this was recently evidenced by his decision to work for free due to the football suspension. Hopefully, he’d be willing to stick around in the event of any demotion.