Icelander Thordarson tipped to take over at Hearts with Terry Butcher

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Reports last night linked relative unknown Gudjon Thordarson, a former Iceland manager, with the Tynecastle post as the Hearts owner goes continental in the wake of Mark McGhee's decision last month to stay at Motherwell.

Gudjon Thordarson, the then-Stoke manager with the trophy after City had beaten Brentford 2-0 to win the DivisionTwo play-off final back in 2002

Yet, in an interesting twist, it is understood that should the deal go ahead, it could include Scotland No 2 Terry Butcher as his assistant.

Romanov had vowed to find a British boss for next season but the unheralded Thordarson's only involvement in the game here was as manager of Stoke City for three years when the club was under Icelandic ownership.

He has recently been back in club football in his native country. It would remain to be seen how, under such a regime, Butcher would combine his duties in Scotland's World Cup campaign, alongside former Hearts boss George Burley, with a job in Gorgie.

Any such appointment would bring to an end Stevie Frail's temporary stint as first-team manager.

Meanwhile, despite opting to stay and lead Motherwell into the UEFA Cup, McGhee insisted last night that he still dreams of being in charge of a top European side.

And the former Celtic and Aberdeen striker admitted that the lure of managing any of the big teams could prove too much to turn down.

He said: "I don't want to be forever managing in front of 6,000 people. I'd much prefer 50,000 and, of course, I'd rather be at a club where you can keep your best players.

"I'd love to manage a team in European competition. When you produce a good player at a club like Motherwell he'll be taken, either by the Old Firm, Hearts or Aberdeen.

"I'm working on the basis that I'm going to be here next year. I've planned pre-season and I'm looking at players."