Devastated Rix did not see axe coming, admits Duffy

JIM Duffy's appointment as director of football at Hearts was supposed to take the heat off Graham Rix, and leave the head coach free to concentrate on preparing the first team for the challenges that lay ahead.

Instead he simply helped cushion the fall, providing the support Rix yesterday needed as he learned his services were no longer required after just four months in situ.

Duffy himself had lasted just over a month in his new post, and only seven weeks at Hearts in total. Yet his thoughts were with his friend Rix yesterday, after a decision he said he could not agree with but simply had to accept.

Duffy left Rix yesterday afternoon after they had spent time together digesting the shock news. He described the head-coach as "devastated" at having been robbed of the chance to negotiate the climax to a season that was still alive with possibilities.

"My main concern is Graham," he said yesterday. "He has worked very hard to get the club into a crucial stage of the season. I thought that would have been enough to make sure everything was left in place until after the Scottish Cup semi-final [against Hibs] at least. The next fortnight is huge in terms of where the club wants to go. It could go one way or the other, but we won't now have the chance to affect that. I just don't think this has come at the right time."

The pair had been preparing for training yesterday at Riccarton when they learned the news at just after 10am. Although some reports suggested Duffy had resigned after learning of Rix's sacking, this was not the case.

"They obviously thought we came as part of a team and if they are going to remove one part of it then they remove all parts," said Duffy.

"It was just before training, and we were already changed and ready to go. Graham had gone upstairs to see Roman [Romanov] and I just thought they'd be going over one or two little things. I got a call to come up the stairs. I found out Graham was leaving, and then shortly after that I found out I was leaving as well."

The mood had been up-beat as Rix and Duffy reported to Riccarton. This was on account of the hat-trick of successes the club had managed to achieve in a week only three days old. "After the match on Sunday [against Rangers] I obviously spoke to Graham," explained Duffy.

"We were happy with the attitude, and the commitment but perhaps a little bit disappointed we didn't get the three points. The players came in on Monday to loosen up. We went to the youth game on Monday night [against Livingston] and were delighted to see them get into the Youth Cup final. We then went to the reserve match yesterday, and were delighted to see them beat Rangers. We thought: 'well, it hasn't been a bad few days'.

"The first team have just drawn with the champions, the youth team's got to the cup final and the reserves have just beaten Rangers. That's quite a good few days. Then the next day you go in and you find you are no longer in a job. I think Graham was totally taken by surprise - he didn't have any indication. And I think for him personally it's proving very difficult."

Duffy is an experienced campaigner, perhaps more inured than most to the often brutal workings of football - he was sacked as manager of Dundee in August. He came into Tynecastle with his eyes wide open, having observed the eccentric goings on at the club this season. His own title of director of football had been offered to him in slightly odd circumstances. After the disappointing 2-1 home defeat to Aberdeen last month he was invited in for a chat with major shareholder Vladimir Romanov. During a broad discussion on the state of the club the then assistant coach was invited to become a more dominant influence. The position, though welcome, had only one drawback: it was temporary, and primed to be reviewed at the end of the season. In actual fact Duffy did not even make it that long, and was yesterday removed along with Rix on another extraordinary day in the recent adventures of Heart of Midlothian.

"I felt our relationship was good," he said of the synergy between him and his employers. "There was plenty of communication. I had absolutely no problem with either Vladimir or Roman. You are not going to be in total agreement all the time. But for the most part it was good."

Duffy's duties were to include all player contractual, development and communication matters. He was also charged with identifying future signings, although he did not get far with this assignment.

"I made some recommendations in terms of what I felt we needed position-wise, rather than specific names," he said. "I mentioned one or two players I thought we might be better to move out."

Duffy wouldn't comment on the club's official statement, which revealed that the Romanovs had been unhappy with the quality of transfer window signings made by Rix.

He was also not willing to be drawn on their stated disappointment at the way "information reached the public domain" prior to a match against Dundee United, with reports that Rix had been ordered to pick certain players circulating long before the match had even kicked-off.

"I don't want to comment on anything they have said, or suggested," he remarked. "Not because I don't have my own views, it's just not the right time."

While Duffy was philosophical about his own situation, he betrayed some concern for Rix's welfare. The former England midfielder endured considerable hostility when he was appointed head coach in November, with some supporters questioning a convicted sex offender's suitability for the post. Rix admitted to being taken aback by the reaction, ranking it far worse than that which he had met with at other jobs following his release from prison, at Chelsea, Portsmouth and Oxford United.

"I am more worried at the effect on Graham and the hurt he is feeling," continued Duffy. "Two men have lost their jobs, one in particular - the head coach. One of his staff might have gone with him, but that happens all the time in football. But a good man has lost his job at a stage where he had the chance - make that every possibility - of being in the Champions League, and a cup final. For me, it's more about the effect on Graham, and how hurt he is. He's been denied the chance to possibly lead his side out at a cup final.

"I left Graham a little while ago. He is devastated. I think for him the best thing to do is get himself home and get his family around him. When next week's semi-final is on he won't know whether to watch it or disappear under the duvet. My thoughts are with him and I want to thank him for inviting me along, because, all things considered, I had a great time at Hearts."

Taken from the Scotsman