Hearts remain on the hunt for a new head coach after parting ways with Steven Naismith, following a disappointing start to the season.

Naismith, 38, was initially appointed interim manager in April 2023 and became the permanent head coach at Tynecastle five months later.

Under his leadership, the team secured a third-place finish in the Premiership last season, ending 12 points ahead of their closest competitors, and reached the semi-finals in both domestic cup tournaments.

Naismith was awarded a new contract on August 9, but failed to win a game since signing his new deal.

We look at the candidates leading the market on betting sites.

Ainsworth Now Leads The Market

One name that remains top of the market is former QPR manager Gareth Ainsworth, who has reportedly submitted a formal application.

Ainsworth left Loftus Road in October, but is thought to have turned down several job offers in the meantime as he waits for the right opportunity.

The 51-year-old, who is 2/1 favourite with betting apps, first made his name at Wycombe, whom he steered from League Two to the Championship with a low budget and his brand of attacking football may appeal to the Hearts hierarchy.

He would certainly find a club like Hearts an attractive option bearing in mind they are in Europe this season, so the ball is in the Edinburgh outfit’s court.

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McGlynn Knows Tynecastle Well

Despite Hearts’ CEO Andrew McKinlay declaring that the next manager will ‘probably’ not be Scottish, John McGlynn (9/4) is second favourite for the Tynecastle job.

McGlynn has twice been handed the manager’s job on a caretaker basis, so he knows the club well enough to be given the role in a permanent capacity.

The 62-year-old did not have an outstanding playing career, but is making massive waves as a coach at Falkirk.

The Bairns were unbeaten in their title-winning campaign in Division One last season and they are second in the Championship.

They also gave Celtic a scare in the League Cup quarter-finals when they twice took the lead only to run out of steam in the final 20 minutes, so could McGlynn return to Tynecastle for a third time? 

Lynch Among The Others

One promotion, four County Antrim Shields and two consecutive Premiership titles, not to mention qualification to the group stages of the Europa Conference League, football betting sites have thrust Tiernan Lynch firmly into the conversation when it comes to the Hearts vacancy.

Whether a move to the top level of Scottish football is a step too far for Lynch is up for debate, but his impressive credentials make him an 3/1 chance to be the next boss at Tynecastle. 

The fact that the club may look away from putting a Scotsman in charge lends well to the Northern Irishman, who has already turned down an approach from St Johnstone to remain with current club Larne.

Fox In The Frame For Permanent Post

Liam Fox is starting to emerge as a credible candidate to replace Naismith following an impressive spell in caretaker charge.

Fox kicked off his temporary stint at Tynecastle with a 1-1 draw against Ross County as Hearts picked up only their second point of the season, but even better was to follow in their Europa Conference League group opener against Dinamo Minsk.

The Jambos fought back from a goal down to secure a 2-1 victory with a 94th-minute winner in the behind-closed-doors game in Azerbaijan.

Then, at the weekend, Hearts went close to ending Aberdeen’s perfect start to the season when they took a 63rd-minute lead at Pittodrie, but the Dons equalised moments later and then capitalised on the dismissal of Jorge Grant with a quarter of an hour remaining to secure a late 3-2 victory.

It’s been an encouraging start for Fox, whose odds have been slashed from 12/1 to 9/2.

Robinson Ready To Answer Hearts Call?

Hearts could do a lot worse than ask permission to speak to Stephen Robinson, whose St Mirren team sit sixth in the Scottish Premiership.

Robinson is doing a great job for the Buddies, who finished fifth last season – their best campaign in 44 years – and they will want to keep hold of their manager.

A short-lived European adventure means the club can concentrate on the league and they will hope the Northern Irishman can improve on last season’s excellent campaign.

Robinson is now 5/1 on betting apps to be named as Hearts’ next permanent manager.

Alex Neil Drifts In Betting Odds

The time might be right for Alex Neil to return to football management after spending the last 10 months out of the game. 

Neil’s last appointment was at Stoke where he was sacked in December after winning 22 of his 66 games.

His final game in charge was a 1-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday which was City’s fourth loss in a row. 

The Scot may relish the challenge Hearts presents, but his odds have fallen drastically from 6/4 favourite to 6/1 to replace Naismith.

Hellberg And Gunnlaugsson Provide Nordic Options

Hearts might be kicking themselves for not appointing a previous Hammarby boss when they chose Naismith over Marti Cifuentes, who has since gone to QPR. 

His replacement, Kim Hellberg, has led the Swedish club to second place in the Allsvenskan, having previously won promotion with Kuddby IF and IF Sylvia before avoiding relegation against all odds with IFK Varnamo.

Compensation would be required after he penned a three-year deal last December, but at 36 he would seem to fit the profile Hearts have gone for in recent seasons and would be a fresh face with new ideas.

The Swede’s odds have have been undulating lately, but he is now 15/2 to head to Hearts.

Arnar Gunnlaugsson may feel he is due a phone call from a big club at some point in the near future and that could come from Tynecastle in the coming days and weeks.

Gunnlaugsson has been doing a great job at Icelandic club Vikingur, making it through to the second round of Europa Conference League qualifiers.

The former Bolton, Leicester and Dundee United forward has transformed Vikingur since joining the club as manager in 2018, winning two titles and four cups, and his tactical nous has begun to attract the attention of clubs outside Iceland.

However, he has seen his odds drift from a heavy favourite out to now being 14/1 after Hearts CEO Andrew McKinlay ruled Gunnlaugsson out of the running on October 3. 

McInnes Not Out Of The Picture

Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes remains a candidate at 8/1 to fill the vacancy.

McInnes won the Scottish Championship title with Killie in the 2021/22 campaign and four months ago led the club to fourth place in the Scottish Premiership which earned him the manager of the season award.

Kilmarnock were knocked out of the Europa Conference League by Danish giants Copenhagen despite a spirited 1-1 draw in the second leg, so his stock remains high even though his team have yet to win in the league this season.

Fox is tasked with filling the void temporarily, but if results are positive then his odds are sure tumble.

Michael Skibbe Shortens In Price

Michael Skibbe is in pole position to land Sanfrecce Hiroshima their first J1 League title in nine years, but his odds have lengthened from 9/2 to 12/1.

The German, 59, took the reins in 2021 since when he has won the J League Cup (2022) and reached the final of the Emperor’s Cup in the same year.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima have finished third in the table in the last two seasons, but they are top with just five games remaining.

Skibbe had a previously short-lived spell with Saudi Arabian club Al-Ain and also managed Bayer Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Dortmund and Galatasaray.

* Reminder: These are hypothetical odds provided by industry experts.