Steven Gerrard comments on Neil Critchley from 2022 as Hearts credentials considered

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Neil Critchley is set to become the next Hearts manager imminently.

Jambos chiefs have narrowed their search down to one after sacking Steven Naismith last month and it is the former QPR and Blackpool boss who has won the race to replace him. The 45-year-old has been out of work since being sacked by the latter two games into the season.

We told last week how Critchley was a frontrunner along with Norwegian boss Per-Mathias Hogmo, who then pulled out of the running after talks with the Tynecastle hierarchy.

Other managers considered were Swede Kalle Karlsson of Vasteras, former Wales boss Robert Page and ex-Birmingham and Millwall manager Gary Rowett. B team gaffer Liam Fox has been in temporary charge.

But Critchley is the man the board have gone for with an announcement expected any time now.

Steven Gerrard previous comments on next Hearts manager Critchley

The former Liverpool academy coach knows Gerrard well from their time at the EPL giants and was the man the former Rangers boss turned to when he was Aston Villa Aston Villa job. Michael Beale left to take the QPR job and needed replaced.

Critchley left his job as Blackpool manager, after getting them promoted from League One and keeping them in the Championship, to take that job.

At the time, Gerrard talked up his credentials and explained how he is different to Beale.

“I’ve got good relations in football and I knew that if that day did come I always prepared myself for that moment (that Beale left),” Gerrard said when talking about appointing his Villa assistants.

“For us to go and act so quickly as a club and the support I had to go and get Neil Critchley was really important, I’m glad we’ve done that.

“I don’t think in terms of the quality of coaching (they’re similar), because you’re talking about two high-level coaches. They’re very different. The important thing is that they deliver what I want and how I want it to look. It’ll be very seamless, that transition.”

Critchley Hearts timeline

It was thought that the Englishman could be unveiled as the new Jambos manager as early as today.

There has been no announcement yet but it would certainly be expected to happen this week.

That was always a likely timeline for a new manager as Hearts are back in action after the international break with a home game against St Mirren on Saturday.