Derek McInnes is staring Hearts in the face and if I was in charge I'd have appointed him already – Ryan Stevenson

Get Derek McInnes. Forget everyone else. Just go and get him.

In fact, Hearts should have been chapping Kilmarnock’s door last week.

If they didn’t, they want to get themselves to Rugby Park right now and start knocking.

I’m sorry, but this whole Hearts manager situation and the solution is a very simple one.

Everything that is needed at Tynecastle is within Derek McInnes. It’s staring you in the face. He’s the perfect candidate, the ideal fit for what Hearts need.

It needs someone at the helm who can run that place from top to bottom and McInnes ticks every single box. Whether Hearts fans fancy the idea or not, that’s a fact.

I might be going over old ground because I said before Neil Critchley was appointed they should have gone for him and my feelings on the matter have only been strengthened by what happened in the interim period.

First thing is first, I played with Liam Fox at Under 13s at Hearts, so I know how much it means to him to be in as caretaker and I know he’s a really good coach.

I was delighted for him and Lee Wallace that they went to Ross County last weekend and got a result because I know how much that also would have meant.

In his situation, he’d want the job. Of course he would. Lee would be sitting there saying I could be assistant manager, that would be a great fit for him as well. I would understand that.

As harsh as this is, I was delighted for those two winning at Dingwall, but none of the rest of them because it’s too little, too late. That squad of players, no matter the formation, should have done better.

Anyway, I prefer looking forward and, right now, Hearts need an experienced manager who can sort the place out and take the fans with him. That guy is McInnes.

I’ve banged the drum about the