Something smells fishy about Neil Critchley at Hearts as usual Celtic suspects queue up on the Hotline

Neil Critchley has the job of reviving Hearts after winning the race to succeed Steven Naismith. However, it’s fair to say universal support for the appointment did not sweep the Hotline.

Critchley, the 45-year-old who worked alongside Steven Gerrard and also managed Blackpool and Queens Park Rangers, takes charge with the Tynecastle club at the foot of the Premiership following a horrendous start to the campaign. Neil Renton, Leith, was straight into it as he said: “Hearts going for Critchley as their new boss is going from comedy strength to strength. The fact that his former player Brett Ormerod has compared his old boss to Austin Powers when he lost his mojo won’t make the Jambos horny.

“In the words of the fictional spy, if the Gorgie lot think this computer algorithm from Tony Bloom has found them a boss capable of challenging the Old Firm, Oh, behave.”

Stuart McAdam, Penicuik, said: “I’m not sure about this appointment at all. It just doesn’t feel right to me and I hope that I am wrong because we need someone to go in there and really sort it out.” Mind you, it wasn’t all doom and gloom as William Davies, Mid Calder, said: “Critchley has to be given a chance and you would hope that Hearts have done all the correct background work to make sure this is the right guy.

“With the backing which is hopefully going to come from Tony Bloom and the use of analytical approach for finding players, fingers crossed it all comes together.”

Domestic football returns at the weekend with Celtic and Aberdeen going head-to-head in Saturday's top-of-the-table crunch. The Dons are looking to stake their claim as genuine title contenders, but Gary Stevenson, Newtonhill, said: “Aberdeen fans beware as the usual suspects will be queuing