Hearts supremo Ann Budge admits the quest to land top target Daniel Stendel has become a slog.
The Jambos have been without a permanent boss since Craig Levein was axed on October 31 with Austin MacPhee still in interim charge.
Hearts are keen to get a deal over the line for the German who guided Barnsley to the Championship before losing his job earlier this season. The process is being held up due to the Yorkshire club demanding compensation.
And Budge admits the Tynecastle side are waiting on the finer details of the contract to be ironed out before the 45-year-old German can be unveiled.
“It’s just a tortuous process to be frank,” she told Radio Forth. “I’ve been trying to ensure that all of the various contractual sides are tied up.
“It’s partly because of the situation when he left Barnsley. It’s not so much on a personal basis or personal terms, but we have to make sure we’re doing things properly.”
Hearts are desperate for a lift and could finish Wednesday bottom of the Premiership if results go against them. They are only above both St Mirren and St Johnstone on goal difference as they welcome Livingston to Gorgie.
