Beni Baningime admits to fears over style of play when he heard Derek McInnes was in line for the Heart of Midlothian job.
Hearts made contact with Kilmarnock this week as they look to take the former Aberdeen boss to the capital and the move is expected to go through.
Liam Fox will remain in the dugout for tonight's home game against St Johnstone and the final game of the season, ironically against McInnes' Killie.
However, the 53-year-old will be the new man in charge for next season and will get the summer to put his imprint on the Hearts squad.
Baningime worried about how he would fit into that. A vital cog in the Tynecastle midfield, he is a ball to feet player who likes to keep things ticking over in the middle of the pitch.
But his fears about being missed out with long ballswere allayed after speaking to Lawrence Shankland and Barrie McKay.
He said: “If he’s the new manager, for me it was just about finding out what sort of style of play he has.
“I spoke to Shanks and Barrie and they told me he’s a really, really good manager. Obviously Kilmarnock’s style of play is a little bit different from ours – from what I’ve seen, it’s long balls and that sort of stuff.
“I was wondering about that so I asked them, ‘How will the style of play fit in here?’.
“But I was told before that, when he was at Aberdeen, he was really good where he was guiding the club to second and third places a lot.
“I didn’t know that, so asking the boys and them clearing it up put my mind at ease.
“In my four years here, I didn’t know anything different. I did get a bit of a fright, because I’m not really that sort of player.
“I’m more about getting the ball to feet, on the ground.
“I’m not saying I’m not up for the fight. But I wouldn’t really want to have the ball played over my head. I’m reassured now.”
In fact, Baningime is actually enthused about the changes McInnes can make to the Hearts team.
He readily admits to a dislike to playing against Kilmarnock because of how difficult they make it, a feature he wants to see implemented in Gorgie.
“I hate playing Kilmarnock," he added. "I hate it! They are so hard to play against.
“If that is what we’re going to be in terms of being hard to beat, honestly I love that because you need that in your team.
“If your manager is driving that, then that’s going to be absolutely brilliant for us.
“I’m just looking forward to seeing what the new manager brings. From what I’ve heard, he’s a really good manager and everyone’s been speaking very highly of him."
