Jambos right to look towards foreign shores

FORMER Livingston boss Allan Preston does not believe the appointment of a foreigner such as Nevio Scala as Hearts' first foreign manager would represent a gamble for the club.

Hungary coach Lothar Matthaus and former Derby County and Ipswich Town manager George Burley, pictured below right, along with Preston boss Billy Davies have been linked with the Tynecastle hot-seat.

However, the vastly-experienced ex-Parma boss Scala is now emerging as the clear front- runner.

Such an appointment would be the first time the club has gone for a foreign coach in its 131-year history.

When non-Old Firm clubs have recruited coaches from abroad in recent years they have, with the odd exception, tended to be less than successful.

While Ivan Golac helped Dundee United win the Scottish Cup during his time in the City of Discovery there are numerous others who have fared less well.

Ebbe Skovdahl at Aberdeen did reasonably well without ever really excelling while Harri Kampman at Motherwell lasted a mere eight months in the job.

Ivano Bonetti promised much at Dundee but failed to deliver while Marcio Maximo endured a torrid time at Livingston and Easter Road favourite Franck Sauzee lasted just 69 days in charge of Hibs.

Preston, of course, worked with Maximo during the Brazilian's ill-fated spell in charge of the Almondvale outfit but believes the names being touted for a move to Gorgie stand head-and-shoulders above those who have come to our shores in recent years.

Scala won the UEFA Cup, European Super Cup and UEFA Cup winners' Cup during his spell with Parma and also claimed a Ukranian league title with Shakhtar Donetsk, the club's first.

Matthaus, meanwhile, who also threw his hat into the ring, led Partizan Belgrade to two league championships after a disappointing spell with Rapid Vienna. Preston said: "The main difference between the managers that haven't done so well here and the guys that are being linked to Hearts is there for all to see.

"A lot of the guys that have been here in recent years have been decent enough managers but don't have anything like the pedigree of these two.

"Scala has managed at and been very successful with Parma and will have a wide range of contacts throughout Europe. He is well known and well respected in the football world and that can only be good in terms of attracting players if they were to be given the job.

"I don't think it's a gamble by the board to look at these guys, I think it's a sign of their ambition. And it's not as though all foreign managers don't do well.

"Ivan Golac won Dundee United their first trophy in a long, long time while Ebbe Skovdahl did okay at Aberdeen. Why shouldn't Hearts look at Scala? I might be biased but I think the Hearts job is a big job. They are capable of getting to cup finals and attracting big crowds so deserve a big-name manager."

Former Hearts winger Preston knows from personal experience that looking abroad does not guarantee success as was demonstrated by Maximo's short reign as boss in West Lothian.

The Brazilian was a total unknown when then chairman Dominic Keane announced his appointment but the move that failed to pay-off. Preston said: "Marcio knew little about European football, let alone Scottish football and had probably never heard of Livingston.

"The difference between Scala and a coach from South America is that he is based in Europe and will already know about Scotland and the way we play the game.

"He knows the way European teams play and that is very different from South American teams.

"Initially, Marcio tried to do things his own way but he quickly discovered that the weather here and the facilities weren't suited to his ideas.

"Even in the summer he found it really cold here!

"But managers like Scala and Matthaus will be used to the weather and the kind of facilities over here and that will stand them in good stead."

One stumbling block to the appointment of Scala is the Italian's apparent lack of English and, while Preston concedes this is not an ideal situation, he believes it is one that can be overcome.

He said: "Marcio's English wasn't good and that was a bit of a problem.

"He was okay when it was a one-on-one conversation but, when it came to getting his message over to the team as a whole, it was a bit of a problem.

"If Scala's English isn't good it is something he will have to work on but it can be picked up quite quickly.

"As long as he is willing to learn, and he will know he has to if he gets the job, it shouldn't be too much of a problem."

Preston, a self-confessed Hearts fan, refused to be drawn on who he would like to see fill the Tynecastle hot-seat.

But he admitted he was hopeful that whoever is appointed will do well, given the thorough search undertaken by Vladimir Romanov and chief executive Phil Anderton.

"I'm sure whoever the board go to they will get it right as they have taken their time," he said.

"We need a strong Hearts in Scottish football and, with Hibs and Aberdeen both improving dramatically last season, it would be exciting to think that the three of them can do well next time round.

"Nobody wants to see the Old Firm leaving everyone else behind so hopefully the other teams can put up a real challenge."

Taken from the Scotsman