IT did not take long for the sacking of Ian Cathro by Hearts to become the subject of some cruel jibes yesterday.

Was Cathro, one impish online wag enquired, informed of his fate by a note passed to him by first team coach Jon Daly?

It was a mischievous remark which made fun of the widespread perception in Scottish football that Craig Levein, the Tynecastle director of football, has interfered in first team affairs.

Read more: Michael Stewart: Craig Levein to blame for mistakes at Hearts

Whether that was true or not remains a moot point. But the 31-year-old’s stewardship of Hearts had certainly become a joke. And it was one that was no longer a laughing matter for supporters.

The Edinburgh club’s failure to progress to the knockout stages of the Betfred Cup on Saturday was the final indignity for the handful of fans who still backed him.

Many of them, openly, vocally and viciously, lambasted the man in the dugout as their team, beaten by part-time League Two rivals Peterhead earlier in the week, failed to overcome Championship opponents Dunfermline at home.

In response, Cathro offered a wan grin. There has been precious little for anyone down Gorgie way to smile about since the Dundonian was unveiled back in December.

The former Dundee United youth coach and Rio Ave, Valencia and Newcastle United assistant began poorly and has been unable to halt an alarming decline. He paid the ultimate price for that after little over seven months in charge yesterday.

Read more: Michael Stewart: Craig Levein to blame for mistakes at Hearts

Bringing in a 30-year-old – the youngest man ever to take charge of a top flight club in Scotland – who had never before played professionally was always likely to meet with a frosty response from traditionalists.

The former Forfar Athletic and Brechin City youth player really had to get off to a good start to keep those who criticised the appointment quiet and he failed to do so.

His side was beaten 2-0 by Rangers at Ibrox in his first game after succeeding Robbie Neilson. Afterwards, he walked across to the away support and mouthed: “Things will get better.” Unfortunately for him, they got worse. Much worse.

The Scottish Cup exit to their city rivals Hibernian in February was the nadir. His side was woeful as the team from the division below them ran out deserved 3-1 winners at Easter Road.

Cathro’s recruitment drive in January, when he brought in seven players who each failed to justify the outlay on their services, was disastrous.

He would appear to have brought in some better quality players this summer. Christophe Berra, the Scotland centre half, and Kyle Lafferty, the Northern Ireland striker, should improve the team significantly.

The fact they had capitulated to Peterhead, relegated to the bottom tier last season, at Balmoor last week with those experienced internationalists in the starting line-up suggested it was the manager, not the players, who were to blame.

Accusations that Levein was undermining him by openly tampering in team affairs were, despite the Hearts great dismissing the claims back in June, completely justified.

Read more: Michael Stewart: Craig Levein to blame for mistakes at Hearts

Daly regularly moved from his vantage point alongside Levein in the directors’ box to the technical area during games just before tactical changes or substitutions were made.

In the league meeting with Aberdeen at Pittodrie in March – a game that Hearts ended up losing 2-0 - BT Sport cameras showed Daly approaching assistant Austin MacPhee directly in the dugout and relaying information to him.

Cathro, the man responsible for the emergence of the talented Ryan Gauld at Tannadice, was always going to have a job on his hands winning the confidence of hardened professionals, many of whom were years older than him.

In public, they have all backed him to a man. Privately, though, a few must have had their doubts. The aspersions about Levein will have done nothing to instil confidence in the man who was supposed to be calling the shots.

But ultimately it is the failure of the Hearts team to perform which has resulted in Cathro departing. His team only triumphed in eight of the 30 games he presided over. That is a win ratio of just over 26 per cent. No manager, no matter how promising, can survive with such a poor record.

Read more: Michael Stewart: Craig Levein to blame for mistakes at Hearts

Cathro is clearly a bright individual. But at times in football pragmatism must take precedence over idealism. His determination for his side to play in an attractive style was admirable. But winning games is what matters in management.

It often appeared as if his players were struggling to implement his game plan, to understand what was being asked of them even, and football fans are not stupid.

Cathro should have cut his teeth in management at a smaller club where there was less scrutiny and where his inevitable mistakes would not be pounced upon so remorselessly.