My Scott Brown to Hearts suggestion was a bit far but even dogs in the street know they've ignored the obvious choice - Keith Jackson

OK, so maybe the example of Scott Brown was stretching it a bit. But the point remains as valid today as it was when it was first floated a couple of weeks ago.

Perhaps even more so now that the data machine has selected Neil Critchley as Hearts' new manager. It was a tongue in cheek, facetious scenario used to stress test the logic behind the search for Steven Naismith’s successor. What if Tony Bloom’s laptop crunched the numbers and came up with Brown’s name as the best qualified candidate for the post?

Having appeared hellbent on ignoring the blindingly obvious choice, would Andrew McKinlay and Ann Budge allow themselves to be slaves to Bloom’s algorithms to such an extent that they would even be prepared to risk a monumental backlash from their own supporters? Well, at least now we have our answer. Because, while the reaction to the hypothetical appointment of Brown would have made for a fascinating case study, when Critchley was unveiled at Tynecastle in real life on Tuesday afternoon, his second name might as well have been Lennon such was the level of unrest among the rank and file.

The 45-year-old journeyman - sacked by both Queens Park Rangers and Blackpool over the last two years - is certainly not what they had in mind when Bloom’s fancy brochure first dropped through the door. McKinlay and Budge must surely realise this. It’s almost possible to imagine the look of horror and the blood draining from their faces from the moment the computer spat Critchley’s name out from its hard drive as the next front runner.

Having previously failed to tie up a deal for Per-Mathias Hogmo, how in the name of hipsterdom were they meant to sell this one to a support base which had been rubbing its hands at the very thought of