Derek McInnes’ exit for Rangers might not even be confirmed yet but Hearts fans are already desperate to see who might be next in the Tynecastle dug out with Tony Bloom’s supercomputer casting the net far and wide.

14:59, 16 Jun 2026Updated 22:38, 16 Jun 2026

Sebastien Pocognoli and Rene Hake

The sequence of events that has left Hearts on the lookout for a new boss in the last few days might have arrived quicker and harder than a Pasquale Bruno 50/50.

But Tynecastle insiders insist the club has been ready for any potential managerial upheaval – and are confident Derek McInnes’ exit won’t leave a bruising aftershock in Gorgie.

Thanks to the succession planning that is made all the smoother by Tony Bloom’s Jamestown Analytics, the Jambos board have been primed to spring into action in finding a successor from the moment Rangers first made contact over a move for the 54-year-old boss.

But if McInnes’ exit was unexpected for some then the very nature of the supercomputer running the numbers to help find his successor means.. expect more of the unexpected.

Record Sport understands formal interviews are set to get underway this week with the plan to make an appointment in time for the players returning for pre-season training next Thursday.

Hearts are casting the net wide and considering managers working abroad and within the UK.

And, taking into account Bloom’s previous preferences at his other clubs Brighton and Union Saint-Gilloise, Record Sport has drawn up a list of who might meet the Jamestown criteria.

Rene Hake

Dutch coach is an early frontrunner with the bookies and is available having left his position as assistant to Robin Van Persie at Feyenoord. Hake was also Erik Ten Hag’s number two at Manchester United and the 54-year-old was previously in charge at Go Ahead Eagles, Utrecht, Cambuur and FC Twente in his homeland having earlier been in charge of the sides youth sides.

Rene Hake

It was in the Twente youth system that Hake developed a shared football vision with Ten Hag for building a side on a defensive structure.

Felice Mazzu

Belgian led the Union Saint-Gilloise charge by winning the second tier title in his first season in charge in 2021 and then following up with a second placed finish in the Jupiler League the following season. Mazzu did so with a squad assembled from lower league gems uncovered by Jamestown Analytics thus he has experience working with Bloom’s wizardry technology. The 60-year-old has also won the Belgian Super Cup with Genk and had spells in charge at Anderlecht, Charleroi and Sint-Truden before moving to OH Leuven a year ago. He was axed at the end of the season after finishing 12th in the table.

Karel Geraerts

Former Belgian international is on the lookout for a club after leaving Ligue 2 side Stade de Reims. The 44-year-old Club Brugge legend had previous stints in charge at Schalke 04 and USG but has yet to lead any of his sides to silverware. However, Geraerts is credited with having an attacking, high intensity style which could suit Tynecastle perfectly. He left Reims by mutual consent after missing out on the Ligue 1 play-offs by finishing sixth in the second tier.

John McGlynn

Falkirk boss McGlynn is perhaps the least obscure option for Hearts given his previous connection to the club – and his sensational three-year run with the Bairns that saw them win back-to-back League One and Championship titles before finishing in the top six of the Premiership in their first season back in the top flight. The 64-year-old has turned on the style with Falkirk and was credited with producing one of the top flight’s best footballing sides last season. With two previous spells in charge at Tynecastle, where he was first welcomed onto the coaching staff by Jim Jefferies 30 years ago, he knows the club inside out.

Sebastien Pocognoli

Belgian is another with previous links to Bloom’s USG – as a player, U21 coach and first team head coach – leading USG to the league and cup double two seasons ago as he was named Belgian coach of the year.

Sebastien Pocognoli looks on

Pocognoli left the Jupiler League side to take over at Monaco last October and led the Ligue 1 club to the Champions League knockout stages. But after finishing a disappointing seventh in the league the 380-year-old left Monaco earlier this month.

Dave Challinor

Englishman brought a hugely successful five-season stint in charge of Stockport County to an end last month after guiding The Hatters to the National League title in 2022, the League Two title in 2024 and finishing last season as runners-up in the Championship play-off final to Bolton. With a win ratio of over 50 per cent at three of the four clubs he has managed – Stockport, AFC Fylde and Colwyn Bay, the 50-year-old’s numbers will stack up well on the analytics. Former players have described Challinor as old school with high standards that gets results.

Alexander Blessin

Another former USG manager who is available having been axed by St Pauli following their relegation from the Bundesliga. The 53-year-old German won the Belgian Cup with USG three years ago before moving to St Pauli in July 2024 and leading them to a 14th place finish in his first season in the Bundesliga. He has also previously managed Genoa and Oostende. Noted for an aggressive, front foot, high pressing style in his previous two jobs, Blessin’s style could appeal to the Tynecastle hierarchy and support.

Neil McCann

Could the Kilmarnock boss be an outsider after his impressive work guiding the Ayrshire side away from the relegation spot in his 18 games in charge? With two spells as a player at Tynecastle he knows the demands of the club while, since retiring from playing, the 51-year-old has shown an impressive tactical nous in his roles as a TV pundit and in the dug out.