Robbie Neilson sacking explained by Hearts board as Andrew McKinlay refuses to 'sugar coat' firing decision

The Hearts board have explained their reasonings for firing Robbie Neilson as Hearts boss after Steven Naismith was instated as their interim gaffer.

Their 'B' team manager, the former striker will step up to become caretaker after the Tynecastle board acted fast to try and save their third place ambitions, which would come with European group stage football for another campaign. Hearts have lost their last five on the bounce and are in fourth place, with a 2-0 defeat to St Mirren at Tynecastle on Saturday enough for them to pull the trigger ahead of Saturday's derby away at Hibs.

And in a statement, it's said Neilson was dismissed because recent results were nowhere near the standard expected, although CEO Andrew McKinlay admits it was no easy decision. He said: "On behalf of Heart of Midlothian Football Club’s Board of Directors, I’d like to provide clarity on the events of the past couple of days and offer an update on the short-term future of the managerial position.

"Everyone connected with the club was bitterly disappointed with the outcome of Saturday’s cinch Premiership match with St Mirren. We had all hoped that things would turn around, sooner rather than later, but results and performances over the past seven weeks have been unacceptable and there is no sugar coating that.

"At full time on Saturday we found ourselves at a crossroads and the Board took the extremely difficult decision, after much discussion, to make a managerial change in order to get back on track and refocus our efforts on clinching third place in the league.

"I do not need to remind anyone just how pivotal a figure Robbie Neilson has been in this club’s journey back to the top of Scottish football. His commitment to Hearts has been