Next Hearts Manager Odds: Derek McInnes Favourite As Kilmarnock Await Approach

Neil Critchley is no longer Hearts manager and betting sites are sizing up potential candidates to replace him.

Critchley only lasted for six months at Tynecastle before his employment was terminated following a 1-0 home defeat by relegation-threatened Dundee.

He took charge in October when Hearts were bottom of the Scottish Premiership, and although Critchley lifted them off the foot of the table he was unable to secure a top-six finish. 

Liam Fox was handed the reins on an interim basis for the second time this season, but the search for a new permanent head coach is well under way.

Who might that be? Let’s take a look at the latest odds supplied by betting apps. 

McInnes Odds-On As Killie Await Approach

Derek McInnes may have missed out on a top-six spot, but that has not prevented the Hearts hierarchy from sounding out the Kilmarnock manager as a candidate to replace Critchley.

Hearts are expected to make an approach in the next 24 hours, although McInnes said there had been "no contact from club to club" in the aftermath of Killie's 3-2 victory over Dundee at the weekend. 

Killie finished fourth in the Scottish Premiership last season under McInnes, who has won trophies at all three Scottish clubs he has coached in the past.

Next Hearts Manager Odds

McInnes steered St Johnstone into the top flight of Scottish football as champions in the 2008/09 season and five years later he won the League Cup with Aberdeen, who never finished lower than fourth under his lengthy stewardship. 

As Kilmarnock boss he won the Championship in the 2021/22 campaign and has kept the club in the Scottish Premiership ever since.

His vast experience of Scottish football, especially during his eight-year tenure as Aberdeen manager, put McInnes to the front of the queue and his odds were slashed from 5/4 to 1/3 over the weekend.

Robinson Second Favourite

Stephen Robinson led St Mirren to a third top-six finish last season and his team are currently sixth in the table. 

Robinson has proved himself in the Premiership and he is thought to be high on Hearts’ shortlist of names to succeed Critchley.

Sporting director Graeme Jones is leading the search for a new manager amid reports the club are keen to appoint someone with experience of Scottish football.

Robinson fits the bill in that sense and he is now 5/1, from 2/1, in the next Hearts manager odds now that is has become clear McInnes is first choice.

Fox Audition Has Gone Well

Liam Fox was put in charge of first-team matters on the back of Critchley's dismissal and he has enjoyed a perfect start to his reign, winning both matches against Ross County and Motherwell.

Fox is enjoying his second spell as interim manager, having taken over from Steven Naismith for three games in September and October.

The former Livingston midfielder could not have done much more to persuade the Hearts board to consider him as a contender for the job on a full-time basis, but questions remain over whether Fox is better suited to the top position or as part of the backroom staff.

Fox's odds have been trimmed from 7/1 to 6/1 and he is now the clear third favourite to fill the Jambos vacancy.

Neilson And McGlynn In The Frame 

Robbie Neilson was initially installed as the 7/4 favourite following Critchley’s dismissal, but his odds have drifted to 7/1.

His most recent job was in the US with the Tampa Bay Rowdies, but Neilson knows Hearts inside out following three previous spells there (one as a player, two as a manager).

John McGlynn (9/1) is another strong candidate. The 63-year-old has also managed Hearts before and he is on the verge of securing a second consecutive promotion with Falkirk. 

McGlynn’s experience could be invaluable in the maroon half of Edinburgh.

Hartley And Jambos Made For Each Other

Paul Hartley won trophies as a player with Hearts and Celtic, and his success has continued as a manager.

The former Scotland midfielder won the Scottish Third Division title with Alloa in 2011/12 and the Championship with Dundee two years later.

Hartley is hoping to secure a third promotion with Cove Rangers, who finished runners-up in League One and will face Airdrieonians in a two-legged play-off-final for a place in the Championship.

The 48-year-old is 10/1 to be appointed Hearts manager, just ahead of 12/1 shot Barry Ferguson, who is unlikely to land the Rangers job on a permanent basis.

Ferguson is in the infancy of his managerial career and although Gers lost out to Celtic in the title race, he has a Europa League quarter-final on his CV.

Kettlewell And Pressley Among Dark Horses

Stuart Kettlewell (14/1) resigned as manager of Motherwell in January, citing the personal abuse he had received from some of the club’s supporters.

Motherwell were fifth in the Premiership when he stepped down, so it can hardly be said that he did a bad job at Fir Park.

Steven Pressley (16/1) is a bona fide Hearts legend. He played 271 league games for the club and captained the team that won the Scottish Cup in 2006. 

Currently head of individual development at Brentford, he has been out of management for six years, so this would be a risky appointment in some ways. 

On the other hand, Pressley would have the instant backing of the fan base.

Martindale And Ferguson Interesting Options

David Martindale (16/1) is currently the head coach of Livingston in the second tier. His team are vying for promotion to the Scottish Premiership and will meet Partick in a two-legged semi-final this week, but if they fall short he could make the step up to the top tier anyway. 

Hearts may consider him as an option, although Livingston remain the only club he has managed before. 

Duncan Ferguson is waiting for his next opportunity in the dugout and it is more likely to come in Scotland than England. 

His last job was in the Scottish Championship, though, so a move to Hearts would represent a big step up. Ferguson is 20/1 for the Hearts job with football betting sites.

* Reminder: These are hypothetical odds provided by industry experts.