Steve McClaren is among applicants for Hearts job

Hearts are in no rush to appoint Ian Cathro’s successor and will take their time to get the right man, while Sky sources understand Steve McClaren has applied for the role.

Cathro was sacked by the club on August 1, four days before the Scottish Premiership season kicked off, following their Betfred Cup exit.

We understand that U20s boss Jon Daly, who was in charge for Hearts' opening day defeat at Celtic, will remain in charge for the next two games at Kilmarnock on Saturday and away to Rangers the following weekend.

The club have said that current assistant head coach Austin MacPhee and director of football Craig Levein will remain in place so whoever is appointed as head coach will need to work within that system.

It is understood that applicants for the position also include Dougie Freedman, Owen Coyle, Edgar Davids and Fabrizio Ravanelli, while Daly has also indicated that he would be interested in the job on a permanent basis.

Publicly, former Hearts players Paul Hartley and Steven Pressley have also noted an interest in the position.

Hearts owner Ann Budge and Levein have started to go through the applications received for the head coach position and will now begin to compile a shortlist.