The Jambos are now looking for their third manager of the season after binning both Critchley and Steven Naismith
Neil Critchley has been sacked by Hearts after six months in the job following a nightmare defeat to Dundee which dragged them into a relegation playoff mire.
The former Liverpool youth coach, who also saw spells in charge of Queens Park Rangers and Blackpool terminated, has been axed after the Jambos failed to secure a place in the Scottish Premiership top six and exiting the Scottish Cup at the semi-final stage against Aberdeen.
The capital club could have got the job done against Dundee United a three weeks ago, but a 0-1 home defeat meant they headed to Fir Park on Saturday knowing defeat would see them consigned to the bottom half of the table. Now panic set and Critchley is gone.
Motherwell were unable to take advantage either, and the sides played out a drab 0-0 draw, which meant St Mirren’s late winner against Ross County was enough to see the Buddies leapfrog both and claim a top half finish fir the third season on the spin.
The travelling Hearts fans made their feelings known after their side made hard work of it against ‘Well, with Critchley’s subs and attempts to try and snatch all three points leaving them baffled and angry.
It proved another big game the 46-year-old fell short in. He managed just three points from nine matches against Celtic, Rangers, Hibs and Aberdeen.
Progression to the knockout stage of the Europa Conference League also slipped though his fingers tanks to a 2-2 home draw with Moldovan minnows Petrocub.
Defeat to the Dons at Hampden on Saturday added pressure and it finally told after the defeat to Dee. Chief executive Andrew McKinlay and chairman Ann Budge are under mounting pressure themselves from fans after yet another failed appointment and an expensively assembled squad languishing in the wrong half of the league table.
A club statement read: “We have today parted company with Head Coach Neil Critchley and his assistant Mike Garrity. The club would like to thank Neil and Mike for their efforts during their time in Gorgie and we wish them well for the future.”
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