Hearts academy director John Murray is to take on the role of director of football at Tynecastle ahead of what are expected to be major changes on the pitch.
In his expanded position Murray, who is credited with developing players such as Craig Gordon, Christophe Berra, Lee Wallace and current squad members David Templeton and Andy Driver, will be involved in recruitment and transfer dealings.
Owner Vladimir Romanov appears ready to sell first-team players and fast-track youngsters into the squad as Hearts battle with debts estimated to be £30m. Jim Jefferies, who turned down the role when he was sacked in August, brought the Northern Irishman to the club in 1995 on a part-time basis as the head of youth development and chief scout.
Murray said: "Having been involved with Hearts for so long, it is a great honour to be appointed director of football and I'm really looking forward to the challenges.
"The club is embarking on a transformational phase which will lead to a number of our prospects graduating into the first-team squad in due course. This transition has to be carefully managed and the work of Darren Murray, Gary Locke and the manager [Paulo Sergio] will be paramount. I hope supporters will also understand this progression will be a continual process and will not happen overnight."
Anatoly Korobochka, Jim Duffy and Aleksandr Metlitski have all performed the director of football role at Hearts under Romanov. Club director Sergejus Fedotovas said: "John has played an integral part in the development of our very successful academy system and we are pleased he has accepted this extended role. John's knowledge, experience and commitment will allow us to shape the football club in the seasons ahead."
Meanwhile, Hearts defender Jason Thomson has been told by club officials that he is free to leave. The right-back is among the first players to have been informed by the Gorgie club that his contract will not be renewed ahead of an expected clear-out in January and at the end of the season. Thomson, whose deal expires in May, is recovering from a groin injury. He was loaned to Dunfermline Athletic on a six-month deal at the start of the season, and hopes to win a berth at East End Park.
He said: "I'll start training this week and hopefully I can get in a couple of games before the end of the loan."
Dunfermline are likely to be without left-back Paddy Boyle, who picked up a knee problem in the 2-1 loss to Rangers on Saturday, for this weekend's visit of Kilmarnock, while winger Joe Cardle has been told to rest for 10 days after having an injection in his knee. None of the eight first-team players already missing through injury is likely to be fit for the weekend.
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