Hearts insist Robbie Neilson sacking wasn't 'knee jerk' as club legend takes fans to task over 'toxic' abuse

Hearts CEO Andrew McKinlay says Robbie Neilson's sacking wasn't a "knee-jerk" reaction - nor was it an easy decision to come to.

The Jambos brought Neilson's second spell to an end after defeat to St Mirren saw them tumble out of third place. Five defeats on the spin have allowed their rivals to gain ground when it seemed like it would be a formality for Hearts just a few weeks ago and now Steven Naismith has been tasked with turning the tables on Aberdeen. But McKinlay insists it was a decision weeks in the making with their defeat at home to Saints just the final straw for Neilson.

He said: "It was a really difficult decision. There was a lot of discussion around if it was the right decision and we want to give ourselves the best position in those last seven games of finishing third. We know what comes with that and it's very important to us.

"It wasn't a knee-jerk or gut decision that was made just on the back of one result. Over the last few weeks, the results have been poor and the performances have left a lot to be desired. We got to a stage where it was hard to see how we were going to be table to turn it round."

Meanwhile Hearts legend Gary Mackay admits he was shocked to hear "toxic" abuse directed towards Neilson after his final game in charge. Fan unrest has been growing for weeks and Neilson was subject to frustrated comments from areas of the ground and Mackay, speaking to Sky Sports, says some "classless" punters crossed the line.

He said: "I thought he had a bit of credit in the bank with the way the season went last year. I thought we'd have given him up to the split. I was extremely disappointed with some of the toxic comments that were directed towards Robbie at the end of the game on Saturday. He's