Archive May 13, 2025

Heart of Midlothian and Kilmarnock have agreed a deal to allow Derek McInnes to become the new manager at Tynecastle, the 53-year-old has revealed, although talks are still ongoing before the move can be finalised.

The former Aberdeen manager will take charge of Kilmarnock’s final two games of the season – including Sunday’s visit by Hearts – before formally succeeding Neil Critchley, who was sacked as head coach after just six months.

McInnes has been in charge at Rugby Park since 2022 and last season guided the Ayrshire side into Europe by finishing fourth in the Scottish Premiership.

His managerial career began when he took St Johnstone into the top flight in 2009 and, after a brief stint at Bristol City, he had seven years at Aberdeen, with whom he never finished lower than fourth and won the League Cup in 2014.

The former midfielder left Pittodrie in 2021 and took charge of Kilmarnock the following January, leading them to promotion to the top flight and keeping them in it comfortably since then.

Former Blackpool boss Critchley joined Hearts in October, with the side bottom of the Premiership after a poor start to the season under Steven Naismith, and steered them clear of relegation – but not into the league’s top six.

Heart of Midlothian and Kilmarnock have agreed a deal to allow Derek McInnes to become the new manager at Tynecastle, the 53-year-old has revealed, although talks are still ongoing before the move can be finalised.

The former Aberdeen manager will take charge of Kilmarnock’s final two games of the season – including Sunday’s visit by Hearts – before formally succeeding Neil Critchley, who was sacked as head coach after just six months.

McInnes has been in charge at Rugby Park since 2022 and last season guided the Ayrshire side into Europe by finishing fourth in the Scottish Premiership.

His managerial career began when he took St Johnstone into the top flight in 2009 and, after a brief stint at Bristol City, he had seven years at Aberdeen, with whom he never finished lower than fourth and won the League Cup in 2014.

The former midfielder left Pittodrie in 2021 and took charge of Kilmarnock the following January, leading them to promotion to the top flight and keeping them in it comfortably since then.

Former Blackpool boss Critchley joined Hearts in October, with the side bottom of the Premiership after a poor start to the season under Steven Naismith, and steered them clear of relegation – but not into the league’s top six.

Former England scrum-half Danny Care has announced his retirement from rugby after amassing 101 Test caps and a record 394 appearances for Harlequins.

The 38-year-old, who called time on his international career after last year’s Six Nations, will hang up his boots at the end of the current season.

Care had previously said he wanted to end his club career after the 2025-26 season, a campaign that would have been his 20th at the Stoop.

“So, it’s finally time. Unfortunately, after 19 years of playing for this incredible club, I’m going to be retiring from rugby at the end of the season,” said Care.

He leaves with two Premiership titles to his name, along with the European Challenge Cup success secured via victory over Stade Francais in the 2011 final.

Care, a promising youth footballer, initially played for Leeds Tykes before being signed by Harlequins in 2006.

A 21-year-old Care made his England debut in June 2008, and was one of Quins’ star performers as they beat Leicester Tigers 30-23 in the 2012 Premiership final.

On the international stage, he was part of England’s Grand Slam-winning team of 2016, while also lifting Six Nations titles in 2011 and 2017.

However, he missed the run to the final of the 2019 Rugby World Cup after being left out of the team for nearly three years by then head coach Eddie Jones.