[The Roll]

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So I've been craving to start a story for a while and update it when commitments let me, so here it is. Note that this is run on FM08, as I just prefer it to FM09! Therefore the years will be one out until we catch up with real time but the squad is the current one. Enjoy.

Last Updated: 11:17 GMT, Thursday, 10 June 2007 12:17 UK
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Frail disappointed by Hearts exit

Stephen Frail says he is hoping to bounce back immediately from the disppointment of leaving his role as caretaker manager at Hearts.

Frail, who left Tynecastle by "mutual consent" on Wednesday, had been in temporary charge since January and on the coaching staff since October 2004.

"I'm incredibly disappointed that it's ended like this", Frail told BBC Sport.

"It's been a fantastic experience but Hearts is a closed chapter - I now need to get back involved in football."

The former Dundee and Hearts midfielder, 38, took temporary control of Hearts' first team in March 2007 following the departure of then boss Valdas Ivanauskas.

Frail and the club's sporting director Anatoly Korobochka took control of first team affairs with Bulgarian Angel Cervenkov assisting the pair.

When Korobochka returned to his role as director of football at the start of 2007, Frail took sole charge of team matters, but under his guidance Hearts could only finish eighth in the Scottish Premier League.

"When you take the manager's job you're one step closer to the exit door," Frail continued.

"I'm aware of that and I know how football works. I now need to look forward and get back involved in the game.

"I'm looking to get back into football as quickly as I can and hope that with what I've done that I can show a prospective employer or chairman that I can do a good job.

"This is the first time since 1985, when I was an apprentice at Dundee, that I've not been working pre-season - so you miss it and you want to get back on the training ground as quickly as possible and that is my target."

Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov is currently searching for a new manager at Tynecastle and Frail urged the Lithuanian to make an appointment as soon as possible.

"I think they're striving to get a new manager quickly but I don't know how far down the line they are with that," Frail said.

"I think it's a damned shame the way Hearts have handled Stevie Frail's departure. The man deserved better
JamboSuarez

The team play their first pre-season games in just under a month and if they've got a new man in for that then he can start working on getting his ideas across and hope to take them forward."

Romanov made disparaging comments recently regarding the quality of coaching in Scotland but Frail was keen to dismiss his former employers' remarks.

"I would wholeheartedly disagree with it," he said

"But everybody is entitled to their own opinion and that's Mr Romanov's."

Hearts are yet to confirm a replacement but leading bookee's have made Dave Jones (Cardiff), Tony Adams, and Roy Keane the main front runners for the job.

This post has been edited by The Roll: 04 March 2009 - 03:27 PM

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Last Updated: 11:35 GMT, Saturday, 12 June 2007 12:35 UK
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Romanov's Scots slight condemned

Alex Smith, chairman of the Scottish Managers' Association, has slammed Vladimir Romanov's comments about the limitations of home-grown coaches.

The Hearts owner told BBC Sport that local managers were part of a "Scottish Mafia" and too set in their ways.

"We would treat comments like that with utter contempt," Smith said.

"We are a small nation and we are in the top 20 in the world, which is a great compliment to the managers, coaches and players in Scotland."

Romanov, who is searching for a new manager at Tynecastle, has gone through a host of coaches since taking control of the club.

Among those have been Scots John Robertson, George Burley, John McGlynn and Stephen Frail.

"I remember him trying one local by the name of George Burley," said former Dundee United and Aberdeen boss Smith.

"I was at the game at Celtic Park when they drew 1-1 and were sitting top of the league after nine games.

"He was sacked a few days later and, since then, Hearts have been tumbling down the league.

"That's not due to poor performances from Scottish managers, it's due to Mr Romanov's constant changing.

"He's the owner and he can do what he wants, but he shouldn't bring Scottish managers into disrepute."

Frail was caretaker boss for much of last season but was asked to stay away from the club's pre-season preparations, while Romanov failed to lure Mark McGhee away from Motherwell.

"Stephen Frail was treated abominably," said Smith. "He was a promising young coach thrust into a demanding situation and he did it with great dignity.

"Mark McGhee has tremendous playing and coaching experience.

"He's taken Motherwell into Europe and is an outstanding Scottish manager - one of many.

"The Scottish Football Association coaching courses are well thought of and the last four or five directors of coaching have been superb.

"Coaches are always in touch with each other, looking for advice and support and if that's an accusation of being a mafia then so be it."

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June 19th 2007

HEARTS APPOINT DALGLISH

Hearts have today appointed Kenny Dalglish as their new first team manager, in what some leadings pundits are calling sensational. Dalglish replaces the outgoing caretaker boss Stevie Frail.

Dalglish, who has been out of management since leaving Celtic in 2000, has been given the job despite Hearts' owner Vladimir Romanov's reservations about Scottish coaches.

Romanov: "Whilst I still stand by what I said about the majority of current Scottish coaches; but until now Kenny had not been one of these. He enjoyed tremendous success as a player with Liverpool Football Club and Celtic Football Club, and then in management with Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers, and Newcastle United. He tells thing as they are and I respect that in a man. I'm sure Kenny will thrive in the hot seat and will hopefully begin a new era of glory for Hearts."

Dalglish, who's last management role was on a caretaker basis at Celtic in 2000 after the departure of John Barnes, has yet been unavailable for comment, but faces his first test on July 2nd against Ayrshire side Girvan in a pre-season friendly.

This post has been edited by The Roll: 04 March 2009 - 08:00 PM

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Kenny: Hearts offer too good to refuse

20.06.07

New Jambos gaffer Kenny Dalglish has today told heartsfc.premiumtv.co.uk that the chance to manage at a top level was "too good to refuse"

Dalglish has spent his first day in office meeting the squad and identifying potential transfer targets with owner Vladimir Romanov and assistant Steven Woods.

Dalglish: "The past several years have been spent dedicated to the cancer charity which my wife and I run and I have thoroughly enjoyed raising funds for research into curing it. However, I had recently felt that considering football has been such a part of me for so many years that I had neglected it for too long. Fortunately for me, Mr. Romanov's offer to me to coach the team this year is a great opportunity and together we have set some goals."

"This year we will aim to achieve European competition for next season. In the long term, I want to break up the Old Firm duopoly".

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1 - 1
Hamilton Park, Girvan, South Ayrshire - Monday 2nd July 2007

Kenny Dalglish watched from the sidelines today as Hearts went behind in their first pre-season game against Girvan but finished the game tied at one goal a piece.

Hearts: Banks; Neilson, Wallace, Karypidis (Mrowiec 81), Zaliukas (McGowan 81); Cesnauskis (Driver 81), Obua (Mikoliunas 73), Kingston, Jonsson (Stewart 73); Elliot (Nadé 73), Tullberg (Glen 45).
Subs not used: Balogh, Kostadinov, Templeton, Novikovas, Copil.

Goals: Tullberg 34.

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Last Updated: 08:17 GMT, Tuesday, 3 July 2007 09:17 UK
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Hearts pounce for Clarke

New Hearts manager Kenny Dalglish has today made his first signing in the form of Southend's English centre half Peter Clarke.

Clarke started his career with Everton, signing his first professional contract in January 1999 and made his debut in 2001 against Coventry City. He made just nine appearances in the Premier League. On 6 August 2002 he went on loan to Blackpool where he made sixteen league appearances, and scoring three goals in a three month loan spell. However, a permanent deal did not materialise and Clarke returned to Everton.

On 20 February 2003 he went out on loan again, this time to Port Vale, where he made thirteen appearances in another three month loan deal. Then in February 2004 he spent a one month loan spell at Coventry City, playing in five games. His contract with Everton expired at the end of the 2003-04 season, and he turned down the clubs offer of a new contract, and so remained at the club on a month-to-month contract.

On 17 September 2004, Clarke signed permanently for Blackpool for £150,000. Clarke played a large part in steering the club away from relegation and, despite the departure of manager Colin Hendry, continued to be a vital part of the club's line-up, under new manager Simon Grayson. He made a total of 84 appearances for Blackpool and was also the club captain.

Despite the offer of a new improved contract, Clarke left Blackpool and signed for Southend United in August 2006 who were newly promoted to the Championship. He signed a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee, citing his desire to play Championship football. After relegation back to League One, Clarke was transfer listed after failing to agree terms over a contract extension.

Clarke has signed a contract until 2011 for a fee of £500,000.

Hearts have also confirmed the signing of Lithuanian youth international Mindaugas Strauka from associate club FBK Kaunas.

Peter Clarke

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DALGLISH SIGNS ANOTHER DEFENDER
10th July 2007

Lee Wilkie has become the second signing of Kenny Dalglish at Hearts, joining from fellow SPL side Dundee United.

Wilkie, who won the last of his 13 caps for Scotland (scoring once) in a 6-0 drubbing by Holland in November 2003, has signed on until 2011 for an undisclosed fee believed to be about £250,000.

Wilkie began his professional career with city rivals Dundee, spending 8 years there only broken up by loan spells with Plymouth Argyle, Notts County, and Falkirk.

Wilkie has overcome serious knee injuries and was rewarded by being handed the captaincy of his boyhood club following Barry Robson's move to Celtic.

Wilkie is sure to shore up a defence which lacked depth, with only Christos Karypidis, Marius Zaliukas, youngster Adrian Mrowiec, and fellow new boy Peter Clarke able to play in the centre back berth.

Lee Wilkie: Edinburgh bound

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Belorussians profit from wasteful Hearts

MTZ-Ripo 3
Hearts 0
Traktor, Minsk, Belarus

Despite peppering the home sides goal with shot after shot, MTZ taught Hearts the harsh lesson that it isn't how much of the ball you have, but what you do with it.

Hearts conceded two soft goals in the first half courtesy of Dmitriy Chemyavskiy and Anatoliy Astapchik and failed to recover, with Pavel Savitskiy completing the scoring late on.

Hearts: Balogh (Banks 73); Neilson (Mikoliunas 63), Wallace (Driver 63), Clarke (Jonsson 85), Zaliukas (Karypidis 76); Cesnauskis (McGowan 45), Obua (Kostadinov 45, Palazuelos 63), Kingston (Tullberg 63), Stewart (Aguiar 73); Nadé (Glen 45), Elliot (Wagner 45).

Goals: None.