Top coaches interested in Hearts

Nevio Scala was interviewed by Hearts last year

Nevio Scala and Alexei Mikhailichenko are both still interested in becoming head coach at Hearts.

Both men were interviewed by the Scottish Premier League club last year before the appointment of the now-departed Valdas Ivanauskas.

And former Borussia Dortmund and Porto coach Scala and former Rangers midfielder Mikhailichenko have told BBC Sport they would consider the role.

But present assistant Stephen Frail is emerging as a strong candidate.

Former Hearts defender Frail is presently number two to Anatoly Korobochka, the sporting director who has been in interim charge since the departure of Ivanauskas last month.

And BBC Sport understands that Frail impressed majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov during the squad's midweek break to Germany.