Hearts are preparing to head to Ibrox on Sunday with Austin MacPhee still in the dugout, as the hunt for a successor to Craig Levein goes on.
The Jambos have held talks with former Barnsley head coach Daniel Stendel over the managerial vacancy at Tynecastle and are understood to be awaiting a response from the German.
Owner Ann Budge outlined the club’s planned new coaching structure during her discussions with the former Hannover 96 boss, and is prepared to offer him a significant financial package in order to secure his services.
Stendel has other options to consider, both in England and abroad, but hasn’t yet ruled out Scotland as a destination.
However it is likely that interim boss MacPhee will be in the dugout for a fourth match since becoming interim manager following Levein’s sacking.
He is due to face Rangers for the second time in his short spell at the helm, having overseen the 3-0 Betfred Cup semi-final defeat at Hampden in his first match after Levein’s departure.
A 5-2 win over St Mirren at Tynecastle improved the mood prior to the recent international break.
But a bruising 3-0 defeat at Kilmarnock last Saturday, in which Hearts found themselves three goals down after 16 minutes, leaves them ninth in the Scottish Premiership table, only off the bottom on goal difference.
