Steve Evans has had a varied managerial career in the English lower leagues with a number of different clubs.
The experienced Scottish boss has been in charge at nine different clubs, the pinnacle being Leeds United even though that didn’t go particularly well for him.
It was during the early part of his career, while in charge at Boston United, that he claims he had the opportunity to take over at Hearts.
The Jambos had been in the control of Vladimir Romanov for a short time and had an enthralling and unbeaten start to the season under George Burley and with superstars like Takis Fyssas, Edgaras Jankauskas, Rudi Skacel and Craig Gordon on the pitch.
Then, like a bolt from the blue, Burley was sacked with the team top of the Premiership table. An early sign of the madness of the Lithuanian owner.
Evans claims he met with Romanov and the job was his if we wanted it.
Evans on being offered Hearts job
The Rotherham boss has spent his entire managerial career in England but says he has come close to returning to Scotland more than once.
Hearts was the closest and he says he was on the verge of accepting with his head and heart both telling him to take the job.
But after chats with Craig Brown and some other trusted confidant’s he was advised to be wary of the owner.
Evans told the Scottish Sun: “I’ve been given an opportunity by two or three clubs to work up there. Totally, totally the right clubs – just the wrong time in my career.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 3 |  AberdeenAberdeen | 28 | 12 | 5 | 11 | 36 | 44 | -8 | 41 |
| 4 |  HibernianHibernian | 28 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 42 | 39 | 3 | 40 |
| 5 |  Dundee UtdDundee Utd | 28 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 34 | 34 | 0 | 40 |
| 6 |  Heart Of MidlothianHeart Of Midlothian | 28 | 10 | 6 | 12 | 40 | 38 | 2 | 36 |
| 7 |  St MirrenSt Mirren | 28 | 10 | 4 | 14 | 33 | 42 | -9 | 34 |
| 8 |  MotherwellMotherwell | 28 | 10 | 4 | 14 | 32 | 47 | -15 | 34 |
“The nearest I came was Heart of Midlothian when the owner Romanov was there. I met him and some people who represented him, worked for him, in London. Then I went up to Edinburgh.”
Neil Critchley recently talked about the size of Hearts surprising him since taking the job. And Evans thought it was a brilliant opportunity.
He went on: “I was really, really keen. I mean, it’s Hearts, a great club. But then – like you’re always advised to do some due diligence, I’d read a few things – and I spoke to the one man who’s been my lieutenant, sadly gone now, Craig Brown.
“But I spoke to others. Craig always put it across in an equal way. The feeling I got, well, it was absolutely one million per cent the right club…but the wrong owner.
“But Sir Alex has always maintained ‘Pick your football club by the chairman or the owner.’
“It was after George Burley had gone. I thought ‘This sounds exciting.’
“You do all the things, you get on RightMove and looking at where you could live. I looked at the fan-base, and I knew what it was like having played against Hearts when I was a kid. I could picture myself as the Hearts manager. It’s a great club.
“But the words from Craig resonated with me and the words of Sir Alex. If you’re going to make a jump in your career, and it’s somebody who wants you and you’re interested, just make sure you’re going to join the right person in charge.”
What Vladimir Romanov said to Evans about Hearts job
Evans was impressed during his meeting with Romanov in which a vision was outlined to him. And he insists the job was his if he wanted it.
“It was mine,” he added. “If that’s people true to their words.
“The words were I had a deadline to make a decision – which was 24-hours.
“The plan, the vision for Hearts under him, was to challenge Celtic and Rangers and to dominate Edinburgh, in terms of Hibs and Hearts. That was the plan.
“When you hear that, when I think of the size of Hibernian Football Club and the respect I have for them…
“When you hear ‘I’m going to back you, I’m going to back you with players, I’m going to back it, I’m going to support you, we want you up in a couple of days’…
“As welcoming as it was, once I did the homework it just didn’t stack.
“But I think it takes your breath away any time.
“I’ve been at Tynecastle…it’s a brilliant stadium, the fans make it. They’re loud, they’re proud.