Former Leicester City manager Craig Levein has been sacked as Hearts manager.
The club announced Levein would not return to his previous position as director of football and had stepped down from the club’s board, although he will stay on in a lesser role until the end of the season.
The decision came after Wednesday’s 1-0 defeat by then Ladbrokes Premiership bottom club St Johnstone saw Hearts slip to 11th spot, level on points with new basement boys St Mirren.
A club statement issued on Thursday 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.”
Assistant manager Austin MacPhee will take charge ahead as Hearts prepare to face Rangers in the Betfred Cup semi-finals on Sunday.
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The statement continued: “Craig will not return to his previous director of football role and, that being so, will step down from the board.”