Hearts appoint Craig Levein as manager until end of season 

Hearts have appointed Craig Levein as manager until the end of the season. 

Levein has held the post of director of football at Tynecastle for three years but returns to the dug-out four weeks after Ian Cathro was dismissed. According to a statement released by the club, he will also continue to "retain the overall responsibilities" associated with his previous role.

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Club owner Ann Budge said: "I am very pleased to be able to announce that, at the request of the board, Craig Levein has agreed to take on the role of first team Manager at the club.

"He will continue to hold a seat on the board and, as such, will retain the overall responsibilities associated with the wider role of director of football.

"He will be assisted on the training ground by four first team coaches, namely Jon Daly, Liam Fox, Austin MacPhee and Paul Gallacher.

"Each coach will have clearly defined areas of responsibility, both on and off the training ground. Jon's first team responsibilities mean that Andy Kirk will now take charge of the U20s on a permanent basis.

"For the avoidance of doubt, yes he will be taking his place in the dug-out and yes, for the first time in the last three years, he will indeed be picking the team!"

It had been suggested that Levein had a say in team selection and on-field strategy during Cathro's troubled tenure, claims the club vehemently denied.

A number of candidates had been mooted as possible replacements for Cathro - Steven Pressley, Paul Hartley and Billy Davies among them - but the club have elected to appoint from within.

Budge said: "The candidates we interviewed were, without exception, first class.

"However, as the interview process progressed, it became clear to the board that the ideal candidate was already with us.

"Not only does Craig satisfy all of our requirements, in terms of experience and personal attributes, he also offers continuity and stability."

Daly, previously the club's U20 coach, had been interim head coach since Cathro's departure on August 1.

He oversaw defeats at Celtic and Motherwell a draw at Rangers and his sole victory came at Kilmarnock.

It will be the former Scotland manager's second spell in charge of the Gorgie side, having occupied the post between 2000 and 2004.

He secured successive third-place finishes and took them into the UEFA Cup group stages.

The 52-year-old left Edinburgh in October 2004 and went on to manage at Leicester, Dundee United and Scotland.

The first game of his second spell in charge will be against early Premiership-pacesetters Aberdeen at Murrayfield on 9 September.