Kilmarnock’s McInnes says deal agreed for Hearts move

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.