Hearts sack manager Craig Levein, Austin MacPhee takes over on interim basis

The club announced Levein had been relieved of his duties as first-team boss by his fellow directors within 24 hours of the club slumping to 11th place in the Ladbrokes Premiership, level on points with bottom club St Mirren, following a 1-0 defeat by St Johnstone.

The former Scotland boss has stepped down from the club’s board and will not return to his previous role as director of football. A statement stressed he would have no input into the first team or influence over his successor.

Assistant manager Austin MacPhee will take charge as Hearts prepare to face Rangers in the Betfred Cup semi-finals on Sunday.

A statement read: “The board of directors of Heart of Midlothian Football Club has today taken the decision to relieve Craig Levein of his first-team managerial duties.

“Craig will not return to his previous director of football role and, that being so, will step down from the board.

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“He will, however, see out his contract, which runs until the end of the season, working closely with the executive management team in continuing to develop and improve the structure of the backroom and youth operations within the development.

“We are confident that his knowledge and experience will contribute massively to ensuring that, come the end of the season, he will leave the football department in a healthy and thriving state.

“Effective immediately, Austin MacPhee will be in charge of first-team affairs, on an interim basis, while the board begins the process of recruiting a new manager. The new manager, and indeed the interim manager, will report directly to the chief executive.”

Owner Ann Budge, who doubles up as chairman and chief executive, installed Levein as director of football when she took control in May 2014 in lieu of a fans’ takeover.