Hearts legend scoffs at Neil Critchley appointment and tells chief executive Andrew McKinlay what he really thinks of him

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Ryan Stevenson remains unconvinced that Neil Critchley is the right man for the Hearts job.

The Tynecastle hero is not sure the 45-year-old should be in the Tynecastle dugout regardless of how the statistical analysis from Tony Bloom’s data company shows up.

Critchley is a former boss at both Queen’s Park Rangers and Blackpool but was axed relatively soon after taking both jobs and, for Stevenson, that does not fill him with confidence.

The Gorgie club are still searching for a full-time Steven Naismith replacement having sacked their boss back in September but one of their prime targets, Per-Mathias Hogmo, saw talks collapse.

• READ MORE: Neil Critchley Hearts appointment timeline could be quicker than expected

That saw them move swiftly for Critchley and it’s a deal that was finalised this morning as confirmed by the club.

Stevenson let rip in his Daily Record column regarding the imminent appointment – which should be signed and sealed this week – as he told chief executive Andrew McKinlay what he really felt.

The ex-playmaker believes the CEO “passed the buck” when it came to Naismith and fears he is doing so again when it comes to naming the new manager.

He feels the usage of Mr Bloom’s company sees the pressure taken off the club chief but wants more “thought” put into the decision to bring in a gaffer.

And he even named the one man he felt should be the coach they move for with Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes the boss Stevenson would handpick if given the opportunity to lead the process of finding their next leader.

Ryan Stevenson does not want Critchley as Hearts manager

“The stats speak for themselves. Neil Critchley has been sacked from his last two jobs at Queen’s Park Rangers and Blackpool,” Stevenson began.

“I don’t know what information has been put in the computer but how is he the best candidate to become the next Hearts manager? He hardly won a game at QPR! Football is the simplest game in the world but it has now been over-complicated by idiots. Look at his last two jobs?

“I am not saying he is not a good coach. From what I have heard, he is a very good coach but it is a totally different skill set from being a manager. I genuinely don’t know. I am trying not to be Mr Negative from the start. But if I am being honest, it is not for me.

“I know (Hearts) are using Tony Bloom’s software and analytical companies but I wanted the club to go and appoint somebody who would unite the fans and get everybody talking about the Hearts in a positive light. The majority of the things coming out over this appointment have been negative.

“I would have liked to have seen a bit more thought going into the appointment. I am not sure there is much thought gone into it.

“It looks as if they have handed everything over to this analytical company and whatever the software has flagged up they have gone for. They have been unable to do a deal with their first choice Per Mathias-Hogmo and now this is their second or third choice.

“I get that this is the way the world is now and a lot of things are data driven. Andrew McKinlay (chief executive) time and time again has passed the buck, like he did with Naisy and giving the last coaching team new deals.

“We are sitting bottom of the table by two points and the day before the European game Andrew was speaking about using the analytical company to split the Old Firm or at the very least push them all the way.

Hearts are bottom of the Premiership after eight fixtures

“This is a massive gamble.

“I would have gone after a name and made Derek McInnes from Kilmarnock the target. He knows the club and Scottish football. It has taken Aberdeen up to now, since he left, to get back to the sort of levels he had them at.

“Another one on my radar would have been Paulo Sergio. He is out of a job. I know him well. Even bringing Paulo back for a year or two would have united the fans. That is the sort of appointment we need.

“I don’t think this appointment does that, I genuinely don’t! If he loses the first couple of games it will be horrendous.”